The BC NDP government is saying an anti-racism hotline is helping people "reclaim their sense of safety," but a Richmond opposition MLA said the service is not being promoted enough.
Teresa Wat, BC Conservative MLA for Richmond-Bridgeport and shadow minister for Anti-Racism Strategy, claimed the NDP government has failed to promote the Racist Incident Helpline despite the service having launched a year ago.
The hotline is a toll-free, multilingual service for people who have been exposed to discrimination based on the colour of their skin, culture, ethnicity or place of origin. Callers are then provided guidance and referrals to local community support services.
Wat and several community leaders called for an anti-racism hotline in 2021 when anti-Asian hate incidents were on the rise during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The hotline wasn't launched until May 2024.
Since then, the hotline has received 807 calls from people seeking help dealing with racism and has made more than 2,329 referrals to support services, according to the Ministry of Attorney General.
However, Wat said many British Columbians are still unaware of the hotline.
“Setting up the hotline was the right move, but the real issue is that the government did nothing to promote it,” she said.
“If people don’t know the hotline exists, how can they be expected to use it? For those in need, it’s effectively useless.”
B.C.'s hotline received more than double the number of racism-specific calls compared to the state of California, despite its population being seven times the size of B.C., the ministry added.
“Given the province’s population and the serious extent of racism in our communities, this number clearly shows a lack of outreach,” said Wat.
“As a former minister of multiculturalism, I firmly believe this hotline is not only a critical support service, but also a tool to help government gather data that can shape real policy change. Without proper promotion, however, it becomes a meaningless gesture.”
She added racism "doesn't just go away" on its own, and is an issue the government needs to take seriously.
Niki Sharma, B.C.'s Attorney General, said the province continues to "fight (racism) in all its forms" through all the tools available.
“As part of that work, we are proud to provide this resource that is connecting so many people in need with services that can help them heal and reclaim their sense of safety and belonging," said Sharma.
"We will continue to strengthen and grow the helpline’s network so that nobody ever has to navigate the impact of a racist incident on their own.”
On average, each hotline caller was directed to three support services, which the Ministry of Attorney General said shows people coping with racism require help on many levels, including legal advice, peer support and mental-health resources.
Jessie Sunner, parliamentary secretary for anti-racism initiatives, described the Racist Incident Helpline as a "core pillar" of the government's efforts to tackle racism and discrimination in B.C.
“It bridges a gap between people dealing with the trauma of racism and the essential services they need to heal," said Sunner.
"We are committed to continuing to empower local advocates, communities and organizations so that we can together create a province where everyone feels safe, supported and valued.”
The toll-free Racist Incident Helpline 1-833-457-5463 is available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in more than 240 languages.
馃摚&苍产蝉辫;Got an opinion on this story or any others in Richmond? or email your thoughts or story tips to [email protected].
馃摬&苍产蝉辫;To stay updated on Richmond news, sign up for our .
馃挰&苍产蝉辫;Words missing in article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing.
