BCAS Welcomes Permanent Funding for Black Canadian Communities

WINNIPEG, September 20, 2026 — The Black Class Action Secretariat (BCAS) welcomes the Government of Canada’s announcement of the Black Canadian Communities Program, made at the National Black Canadians Summit, with $135.7 million over five years beginning in 2026–27 and $27.1 million annually thereafter.

The commitment to provide ongoing funding is significant. Black communities have faced decades of systemic discrimination and underinvestment, and addressing their lasting impact requires sustained investment. Speaking at the National Black Canadians Summit, BCAS President and CEO Nicholas Marcus Thompson welcomed the announcement:

For too long, organizations doing critical work in Black communities have had to rely on short-term funding to address barriers that have existed for generations. Permanent funding is what is needed to address the impact of decades of systemic anti-Black discrimination and underinvestment. This commitment gives organizations greater stability to plan, build and deliver for the long term.

This investment recognizes that the barriers facing Black Canadians require dedicated and sustained action. That same recognition is needed in Canada’s workplaces.

BCAS continues to call for the modernization of the Employment Equity Act, including the recognition of Black workers as an employment equity group, to address longstanding exclusion from employment opportunities and advancement.