FORSETH – Criteria for new ‘inclusivity’ grants actually discourage some groups
Niki Sharma. (Image: BC NDP)
BECAUSE I RUN both political Facebook and blog pages, I subscribe and receive dozens of media releases on a daily basis, including from our own provincial government.
No big deal, right? Not normally, but early this morning one came in that kind of twigged something in me saying, ‘somethings wrong here’.
The release came from BC NDP Attorney General Niki Sharma, and was headlined “New grants will help counter racism, promote inclusivity”
Good so far … great idea … and the release began with:
People in B.C. will see stronger, more inclusive communities as local organizations can now apply for provincial grants that back projects fighting racism and promoting multicultural understanding.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe, respected and valued in their community,” said Niki Sharma, Attorney General. “By investing in community-led projects, we’re giving organizations the tools they need to bring people together, celebrate diversity and make lasting progress against racism.”
But then came the part that grabbed my attention:
Priority will be given to applications from organizations led by or serving Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities.
Hold on a minute … Sharma announced new grants to help counter racism and promote inclusivity, then she turned around & PRE-SELECTED who the majority of grants would go to.
Isn’t that somewhat prejudicial, and what these grants are supposed to be helping to prevent?
Actually isn’t that a whole lot prejudicial (and Yes I know, bad English).
Some will likely say I’m biased and always looking for the negatives when it comes to Premier Eby’s NDP provincial government – I won’t deny that.
Regardless, I think being prejudicial in who receives grant money to fight racism smacks of prejudice and racism itself.
Alan Forseth is a Kamloops resident. For 40 years he has been active, in a number of capacities, in local, provincial and federal politics, including running as a candidate for the BC Reform Party in the 1996 provincial election. He is secretary of the Conservative Party of B.C. He blogs at Thoughts on BC Politics and More.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
White Anglo-Saxon is the only ethnic group capable of racism. Literally everybody else can direct invective and say or do whatever they like to whomever they like, and that gets a pass. The program you refer to is indeed racism at its finest.
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Most inclusivity initiatives, inclusive groups and such, are almost always predicated on exclusivity, and exclusion of others, and even exclusion of ideas. DEI will DIE soon enough. The loony left has long lost the plot.
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