Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives: About us

The Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives works with partners and communities to help lead and support government’s anti-racism initiatives and promote equity. We work to identify and address systemic racism and inequity in government policy, legislation, programs and services. We’re also responsible for helping government and communities improve social and economic well-being for all people within the province and creating greater access to opportunities and resources.

• making sure government identifies and addresses underlying and systemic differences that people experience with access to opportunities and resources
• building relationships with marginalized communities to help inform government
• creating equity impact assessment tools to guide decision-making processes that support anti-racism, accessibility, gender equity, social equity and inclusion in government budgets, policies and programs
• working with communities to help improve education, health, social and economic equity for all people within the community
• developing policies and programs to help combat racism and inequity and resolve inherent biases and institutional processes that result in systemic racism and inequity
• overseeing the Land Titles Initiative and providing faster results for residents who need clear title to their land
• working with partners and communities to develop processes to collect, measure and report data that helps inform and support equity

The Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives has about 12 staff working in engagement, policy, project management, evaluation and data analysis. The office plans to represent the diverse communities that it serves. Most staff work in Halifax.

• helping residents of North and East Preston, Cherry Brook and Lake Loon, Lincolnville and Sunnyville with the Land Titles Initiative to establish clear title to their land that’s been passed down by their ancestors
• conducting an equity assessment of individual program plans (IPPs) to identify and remove systemic barriers in education that affect students of African and Indigenous descent
• working with racialized communities to help determine what information needs to be collected by government to help identify and address racism and inequity in programs and services
• working with Executive Council Office to develop and implement equity impact assessment tools to guide government decision-making processes
• developing ways to share updates on government’s equity and anti-racism progress
• developing processes to collect, measure and report data that helps inform and support education, health and economic equity
• developing an anti-racism strategy that addresses stigma and hatred directed at racialized communities