Emancipation Day recognizes the abolition of slavery in Canada and other British colonies on August 1^st, 1834. It is a day to reflect on this nation’s history and participation in slavery, and to remember and honour those who were engaged in the struggle and uprisings against the transatlantic slave trade in British colonies. This day is significant because it’s also about dignity and resilience.

“While we are reflecting on the past, it is also important to recognize the present-day impacts of Canada’s history of slavery on Black communities. Black people in Canada still face major injustices and the legacy of the slave trade lives on today in the form of racial inequities in employment, education, housing, and health, as well as the over-policing and over-surveillance of Black communities,” said Marc-Édouard Joubert, Executive Vice-President of the Canadian Labour Congress.

When it comes to employment, data from Statistics Canada showed that Black workers experienced significant earnings gaps, often working in lower-wage occupations despite their education. They were also less likely to have full-time, year-round employment compared to non-racialized workers who are third-generation or more in Canada.

A 2023 Black Canadian National Survey conducted by York University’s Institute for Social Research, in partnership with the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, found that 96% of Black Canadians identified racism as a workplace problem and 78% viewed it as serious or very serious. Nearly half of Black workers (48%) reported experiencing workplace discrimination or unfair treatment, compared to other racialized groups (39%) and non-racialized workers (41%). Black workers perceived workplaces as epicentres of racial discrimination and unfairness.

A modernized Employment Equity Act is a critical means to addressing the issues of systemic racism and discrimination illustrated by this data. It has been three years since the release of the federal government’s Employment Equity Task Force’s thorough report and recommendations on updating the Act, and since the previous government committed to adding Black workers as a new designated equity group under the Act, and inequities continue to deepen while workers wait for action from government.

Canada’s unions are once again urging the federal government to fully implement the recommendations of the Task Force and introduce an updated Act, with sufficient funding to support employers in implementing it and the resources necessary for the Canadian Human Rights Commission to carry out enforcement and ensure compliance and effective evaluation.

This Emancipation Day, here are some ways to celebrate and support Black workers and communities:

• Find and participate in Emancipation Day events in your area
• Check out the CLC’s factsheet on the issues Black workers are facing
• Join the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists’ (CBTU) campaign calling on the Government of Canada to issue a formal apology for Canada’s role in the trafficking and enslavement of Africans.
• Educate yourself on Canada’s history of slavery and its lasting impacts
• Read the United Nations Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent’s country report on Canada.

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