Toronto’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee (CABRAC) met for the first time on Friday to set priorities for the year.
As an advisory group, a first of its kind, members will provide expert advice to Toronto city council on strategic and emerging issues to ensure policies, programs and initiatives “adequately serve people of African descent”.
“Since the establishment of the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Unit, I have made it clear that addressing anti-Black racism is a top priority for our city,” said Mayor John Tory.
“Toronto has been making strides when it comes to policy changes and new initiatives that all aim to eliminate anti-Black racism in our city. We know we need to do more and this advisory committee will help us further meet those goals and ensure that we are on track with the implementation of our action plan.”
The committee – chaired by Deputy Mayor Michael Thompson – was established by Toronto City Council at its meeting in September 2020 and will serve their term until 2022.
Establishing the CABRAC focused on confronting anti-Black racism in Toronto and will help further advance the objectives of the Toronto Action Plan to Confronting Anti-Black Racism, which was adopted in December 2017.
The Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee is composed of 14 public members and was established to provide advice to council on:
- How to support the implementation of the principles of the International Decade for People of African Descent (recognition, development and justice)
- How to support positive outcomes for Black Torontonians in areas of child welfare, education, employment and entrepreneurship, housing and healthcare
- How to promote equitable outcomes for Black Torontonians on issues relating to policing and the criminal justice system
- Eliminating barriers faced by Black communities and recommending city engagement to help improve access to provincial, federal and community agency services and programs
- How to ensure the interests and needs of Black communities are reflected in city programs and service delivery
- Tracking emerging issues and trends of significance to Black communities as they relate to city services and programs
In the Changes to Policing in Toronto report adopted by Council in June 2020, one of the recommendations was to build on the mandate and membership of the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Partnership and Accountability Circle, which guides and supports the implementation of the Toronto Action Plan to Confront Anti-Black Racism, by establishing a Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee.
“The development of the Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee is another step in the City’s plans to tackle anti-Black racism and in eliminating systemic racism throughout our organization and agencies, setting an example for other large organizations across Toronto. I look forward to supporting city staff to implement the advice and guidance we receive from the Committee through their engagements with city council,” said city manager Chris Murray.