The B.C. government has released its first Anti-Racism Action Plan, a wide-ranging strategy aimed at addressing systemic barriers faced by Indigenous and racialized people when accessing public services.
The plan includes 37 commitments to be implemented between June 2026 and May 2028 by 17 government ministries and agencies. The actions span health care, education, public safety, labour, child and family services, climate response and the justice system.
Attorney General Niki Sharma said the plan is intended to move beyond identifying systemic racism and focus on practical steps to improve access to government services.
Among the commitments are measures to strengthen protections for temporary foreign workers, international students and gig workers who may face higher risks of exploitation. The province also plans to review employment standards, improve access to information in multiple languages and identify barriers within income and disability assistance programs.
In health care, the government says it will establish a new centre for anti-racism and cultural safety, expand culturally safe care initiatives and improve support for racialized communities living with chronic health conditions.
The plan also includes public safety initiatives such as piloting a Red Dress alert system for missing Indigenous women, girls, Two-Spirit and gender-diverse people, along with the creation of a First Nation safety officer program.
Another focus is the growing use of artificial intelligence. The province plans to establish a multidisciplinary group to develop ethical guidelines for AI use in government and address concerns about racial bias in emerging technologies.
Annual progress reports will begin in September 2027, with a new action plan scheduled for release in 2028.
Government says the strategy is intended to create more equitable access to public services while strengthening trust between communities and public institutions across British Columbia.
