Using data to integrate anti-racism in the settlement sector
Although on paper Canadian immigration policy gives equal importance to the social and economic success of newcomers, this is not the case in practice, says Aviva Weizman, research associate at the Centre for Newcomers in Calgary. She spoke at Metropolis Canada’s 4th Annual Forum on Measuring Identities on Wednesday.
While the settlement sector is often considered to have expertise in diversity, equity and inclusion, there are blind spots that need to be addressed.
Newcomers face everyday and systemic racism, discrimination, and stigma. Weizman says this stigma is attached to the idea of “a spoiled identity,” when individuals or groups don’t meet the standards of the society they are a part of.
Disaggregated data based on race highlights the disparities that have occurred during COVID-19, demonstrating that biological determinants are insufficient to explain health disparities. In other words, Weizman says, “Race does not necessarily put you at a higher risk. Racism does.”
Although racism encompasses practices, processes, and structures, the structural component forms the basis of who can access resources and how they are allocated.
Themes emerging from the Centre for Newcomers’ community engagement on racism demonstrated various areas that need to be addressed within the settlement sector. The first is racism in settlement program delivery. Francis Boakye, vice president of strategy with the Centre, said that according to participants engaged, this is particularly prevalent in language classes and employment, where people who are supposed to be “upskilling” are instead placed in entry-level positions.
There were also inconsistencies in understanding and resistance from leadership; a lack of collective vision; and a lack of integration of anti-racist strategies.
Boakye highlighted that the three-year Federal Anti-Racism Strategy launched in 2019 provides an opportunity for service providers to support this policy by infusing anti-racism in all aspects of service delivery. Without this clear policy direction in anti-racism by the main funder of the settlement sector, programming could be tailored towards funder goals that are not consistent with anti-racism objectives.