Every February, Canadians are invited to take part in Black History Month to recognize and celebrate the significant contributions of Black Canadians across the country. This year's theme, "Ours to Tell", highlights stories of successes and sacrifices, to inspire all of us to continue building a more equitable society that leaves no one behind.
The Government of Canada is committed to addressing all forms of anti-Black racism and improving the health, social, and economic well-being of Black Canadians. This includes ensuring that there are supports and initiatives designed by Black communities for Black communities.
As we celebrate and take time to reflect on the contributions and the legacy of Black Canadians, we must also recognize that Black communities continue to experience significant social and economic inequities that have negative impacts on their health and well-being.
In particular, anti-Black racism and systemic discrimination are key drivers of health and social inequities across the country, including barriers to mental health care and higher rates of mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, and loneliness.
Through the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)'s Intersectoral Action Fund, we are helping address the social determinants of health and health inequities through an intersectoral approach that is community driven. For example, we are supporting organizations like the Ribbon Rouge Foundation which received funding to help address health inequities within the African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities in Alberta.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also amplified the deep health impacts of structural and systemic racism that Black communities have and continue to experience, as well as the need for race-based data and important research to address the inequities experienced. Through Budget 2022, we are investing $40.9M over five years and $9.7M ongoing to the federal research granting agencies to support scholarships and fellowships for promising Black scholars. This funding will increase the number of Black research trainees at the undergraduate, master, doctoral, and post-doctoral stages to ensure that our research is more equitable, diverse, and inclusive.
In addition, as part of supporting more equitable research, through the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR), we are once again supporting the Canadian Black Scientists Network's national Black Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine/Health (BE-STEMM)
