Canada – Minister Ng reaffirms Canada’s commitment to inclusion at opening of Chinatown Storytelling Centre

Nov 6, 2021 | International

Vancouver, British Columbia

The Government of Canada is committed to fighting anti-Asian racism and ensuring inclusion and representation through policies and concrete actions.

Today the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, attended the opening of the Chinatown Storytelling Centre in Vancouver. This marks her third visit to the centre since 2019, when she announced the Government of Canada’s $500,000 investment to help make this initiative a reality. Minister Ng was joined by the Honourable Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia; the Honourable Melanie Mark, B.C.’s Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport; Kennedy Stewart, Mayor of Vancouver; Chief Janice George; Carol Lee, Chair of the Vancouver Chinatown Foundation; and other community representatives.

The Minister highlighted the significant contributions Asian Canadians have made, are making, and will continue to make for generations to come to building this country. She also drew attention to the fact that anti-Asian racism has risen dramatically during the pandemic, and she re-emphasized the Government of Canada’s commitment to fighting racism and discrimination while working with allies across Canada. She underscored the government’s work in this area, such as the $11-million investment through Budget 2021 to support racialized communities directly impacted by the rise of racism during the COVID-19 pandemic, including to help establish a national coalition to support Asian Canadians.

The Minister thanked Carol Lee for her leadership and recognized the importance of the Chinatown Storytelling Centre as a hub for the celebration of Chinese Canadians’ experiences and contributions to this country. She encouraged all Canadians to visit the centre and learn about this important history.

“The Chinatown Storytelling Centre is a highly anticipated hub for celebrating the many ways Chinese Canadians have shaped our country, and it will help preserve and breathe new life into Vancouver’s Chinatown. Fighting anti-Asian racism and increasing Asian Canadian representation in leadership roles are priorities, both for our government and for me, personally. Through concrete actions, our government will continue to work hard to fight racism in all its forms and make our communities more inclusive.”

— The Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Development, Small Business and Economic Development 

In 2020, the Government of Canada reiterated its commitment to fighting racism in all its forms by providing $50 million, starting in 2021–2022, to deliver on the government’s anti-racism objectives.

The Canadian Race Relations Foundation is a Crown corporation created in 1996 as part of the Japanese Canadian Redress Agreement.

The Federal Anti-Racism Secretariat at Canadian Heritage leads a whole-of-government approach in addressing racism and discrimination while driving Building a Foundation for Change: Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy 2019–2022.

The anti-racism strategy is a $45-million investment to foster long-term changes in support for communities and to improve policies, initiatives and practices in Canada’s federal institutions.

Through Canada’s anti-racism strategy, the government is taking action to support Indigenous peoples; racialized communities, including Asian communities; and religious minorities in three principal ways: demonstrating federal leadership, empowering communities, and building awareness and changing attitudes.

Alice Hansen

Press Secretary

Office of the Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development

613-612-0482

alice.hansen@international.gc.ca

Media Relations

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

343-291-1777

media@ised-isde.gc.ca

Follow @CanadaBusiness on social media for business-related news: Twitter, Facebook

Canada – Minister Ng reaffirms Canada’s commitment to fighting racism and discrimination 

Jun 27, 2021 | International

Today, at the Chinese Canadians Leaders’ Summit of the Action, Chinese Canadians Together (ACCT) Foundation, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, affirmed the importance of diversity, inclusion, and representation in all aspects of society, especially within government.

June 26, 2021 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

The Government of Canada is committed to taking action against racism and discrimination in all its forms—whether online, on Canada’s streets, or in the workplace.

Today, at the Chinese Canadians Leaders’ Summit of the Action, Chinese Canadians Together (ACCT) Foundation, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, affirmed the importance of diversity, inclusion, and representation in all aspects of society, especially within government.

During a panel discussion with Lai-King Hum, founder of Hum Law and Deputy Judge; Daniel Quan-Watson, Deputy Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs; Kathy Cheng, President of WS & Co.; and Yung Wu, CEO of MaRs Discovery District, Minister Ng highlighted the significant contributions people of Asian descent have made in Canada historically, are making presently, and will continue to make for generations to come.

The Minister underscored that people of Asian descent in Canada do not only aspire to lead: they are already leaders across the country in business, government, academia, and community organizations.

Minister Ng expressed her commitment to continue fighting racism and discrimination on behalf of all Canadians and to using every opportunity to encourage Canadians of all backgrounds to get involved in this effort.

The Government of Canada recognises the unequal impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had on certain Canadians, emphasizing the unacceptable rise in harassment and attacks against people of Asian descent in Canada. That is why the Government has invested $11 million over two years to expand the Canadian Race Relations Foundation to support all racialized communities, including by helping establish a national coalition to support Asian Canadians. 

“As a Canadian of Asian descent at the Cabinet table, fighting anti-Asian racism and increasing Asian Canadian representation in leadership roles are priorities not just for our government, they are priorities for me, personally. Through concrete actions, our government will continue to work hard to not only support but also champion the next generation of Asian Canadians, particularly Asian Canadian women.”

– Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade

In the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, the Government of Canada reiterated its commitment to fighting racism in all its forms by providing $50 million over two years, starting in the 2021 to 2022 fiscal year, to deliver on the government’s anti-racism objectives. 

The Canadian Race Relations Foundation is a Crown corporation created in 1996 as part of the Japanese Canadian Redress Agreement.

The Federal Anti-racism Secretariat, at Canadian Heritage, leads a whole-of-government approach in addressing racism and discrimination while driving Building a Foundation for Change: Canada’s Anti-racism Strategy 2019 to 2022.

The strategy is a $45-million investment to build long-term changes in supporting communities and to improve policies, initiatives, and practices in Canada’s federal institutions.

Through Canada’s Anti-racism Strategy, the government is taking action to support Indigenous peoples; racialized communities, including Asian communities; and religious minorities in three principal ways: demonstrating federal leadership, empowering communities and building awareness and changing attitudes. 

Alice Hansen

Press Secretary

Office of the Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade

613-612-0482

Alice.Hansen@international.gc.ca