Report from Alberta Anti-Racism Advisory Council takes aim at justice system, education and health-care layoffs

NDP justice critic Irfan Sabir said the release of the report is a good step, but called the lack of an implementation plan from the government months after it first saw the report “deeply disappointing,” especially at a time when the country sees an increase in hate-motivated attacks.

“We need to hear from this government what the action plan is,” he said in an interview, adding the province needs to say what recommendations it accepts and what resources it is willing to commit to them.

“There’s so much fear in the racialized communities. Those Albertans deserve better,” said Sabir.

Irfan Chaudhry, director of MacEwan University’s office of human rights, diversity and equity, said the government needs to follow through with resources, tracking and transparency.

“Now that it’s visible, they need to act on it,” he said, pointing to the importance of an independent body to address inequity and systemic racism across all sectors, which is called for in the report.

“As someone who delivers anti-racism training, the training itself is not enough,” said Chaudhry.

He added that he’s seen many of these recommendations before, but a lack of political will often gets in the way of meaningful change.

“I want to see how these things are performed, but more importantly I want to see who’s in charge, who’s responsible, who’s accountable,” he said.