Making it Count Panel Discussion

This panel took place on Monday, February 3, 2020.

In 2014, the UN declared the years 2015-2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent.  In 2017, the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent visited Nova Scotia as a part of their report on the welfare of Black communities in Canada. The Working Group found that, in this province, people of African descent are still suffering from the historical and contemporary effects of racism, segregation and discrimination. This report, combined with the advocacy of community groups including the DPAD Coalition led to the Prime Minister and the Premier acknowledging the Decade. Both federal and provincial governments committed to addressing anti-Black racism. 

Nova Scotia is the first province in the country to release a policy framework designed to respond to the Working Group’s report. With the release of Count Us In, Nova Scotia’s Action Plan for the Decade for People of African Descent, the province has an opportunity to embark on a critical conversation about the best policy approaches to address anti-Black racism and discrimination. 

This panel will feature experts from the African Canadian community, who will discuss the Count Us In report and its implications on policymaking efforts in Nova Scotia. 

This event is hosted by the MacEachen Institute for Public Policy and Governance with support from the Dalhousie President's Office, Dalhousie Student Affairs Office, the Dalhousie Black Students Advising Centre, The Dalhousie Community of Black Students in Nursing and The Health Association of African Canadians.

We encourage attendees to attend the Dalhousie Black Student Advising Centre's event immediately after this panel.