NBMC Launches Survey on Systemic Racism in New Brunswick
Fredericton, NB – The New Brunswick Multicultural Council (NBMC) has launched a survey to understand the experiences and perceptions of racism within New Brunswick. The survey comprises 28 questions aiming to solicit both qualitative and quantitative data on the current state of racism in New Brunswick. The survey explores the topic of systemic racism in healthcare, housing, justice system, the private sector and public sphere. Racialized people facing increased discrimination due to the pandemic will now have a means to have their experiences documented. Participants can make recommendations on solutions to address the pressing issue.
NBMC knows the importance of anti racism work in the broader context of immigration and integration of newcomers in the province.
“There is minimal data on racism in New Brunswick. This survey will provide us with a foundational understanding of the issue, so we can create and advocate for suitable solutions,” said Husoni Raymond, Anti-Racism Coordinator at NBMC. “Without understanding the scope of the problem and the individual and collective experiences, we can’t meaningfully address the issue. This survey is just the beginning,” he continued.
Racism poses a barrier to the social and economic prosperity of New Brunswick. Everyone in New Brunswick deserves equal access to services and opportunity, despite their place of origin or the colour of their skin.
“We are committed to supporting anti-racism work in the province of New Brunswick. We know that there is still much work to be done and we want to be a part of the solution,” said Moncef Lakouas, President of NBMC. “Launching the survey is just one piece of a big puzzle that needs to be solved, and we will continue to work with our immigrant serving agencies and partners across the province to act on this important work,” he concluded.
NBMC is seeking the support of all its community members and partners in ensuring the survey gets distributed as widely as possible. To this end, the survey will be made available in multiple languages to make it accessible to a broad audience. The organization encourages everyone passionate about anti racism work to share the survey among their networks and to participate themselves.