Historic Class Action Lawsuit Against Systemic Anti-Black Racism in Canada’s Public Service Heads to Court
Wednesday 30 October 2024
by Ketcia Peters
This week, history is unfolding in a Toronto courtroom. Black public servants are uniting in a landmark $2.5 billion class action lawsuit to address decades of systemic anti-Black racism within Canada’s federal workforce. With voices resolute, 45,000 Black employees and applicants—those who faced the closed doors of hiring discrimination and the glass ceilings of stalled promotions—are demanding accountability for a system that has often sidelined them. For lead plaintiff Nicholas Marcus Thompson, this fight is about much more than financial reparations. “This isn’t only about compensation—it’s about building a more equitable public service,” he explains. “It’s about ensuring future generations of Black Canadians don’t face the same barriers in employment.” He and others stand united not just for justice today, but to reshape the future, to make sure Black Canadians can find opportunities where they once found obstacles. This case, the largest employment-related discrimination suit in Canadian history, calls for both redress and reform. Yet, in its nearly four years of litigation, the federal government has already spent $8 million contesting these claims, asserting that other avenues for grievances exist. But for those who have lived it, these existing pathways have proven ineffective. This lawsuit, they argue, is the only way to achieve meaningful change. While the government recently launched an “Action Plan” to enhance career mobility and mental health support for Black employees, and has committed nearly $50 million for career development programs, systemic change remains elusive. The plaintiffs and their advocates believe that true equity requires more than just words; it requires a legal reckoning. This fight isn’t just for those who’ve already faced discrimination. It’s for the Canada we all believe in—a nation where opportunity is truly equal.
This historical moment reminds me of the underground railroad… The Underground Railroad was significant as one of the earliest large-scale interracial collaborations in North America. Black and white people came together with the shared goal of helping enslaved African Americans escape to freedom, and this was remarkable because the Underground Railroad set a precedent for interracial cooperation in social justice causes, inspiring future civil rights efforts where Black and white allies would continue to work together to challenge inequality and injustice.
Here’s where we all come in: write to your Member of Parliament, not just for those who’ve fought today but for the Canada we believe in—a Canada where justice isn’t just an ideal but a foundation. Because when justice takes root, it doesn’t just heal the past; it nourishes the future. Rooted justice anchors us, providing strength and stability that endures through generations. It touches every life it was meant to serve, fostering a community where fairness grows and no one’s potential is left in the shadows. When justice takes root, it becomes a resilient, living part of who we are. This is the Canada we can build together: one rooted in fairness, equality, and unwavering strength.
I know we can count on you…Let’s make it happen, for a stronger, fairer Canada.
Ketcia Peters is an entrepreneur and community advocate for economic inclusion and development for Black Canadians and the social justice sector. Her firm, Ketcia Peters Group Inc. (KPG) provides bilingual organizational and human development services to the public and private sector. This includes analysis and coaching of HR practices, strategic planning, organizational change, equity and inclusivity, and anti-racism. KPG also provides individual and group coaching. In recent years, KP Group Inc. has shifted to greatly expand its equity, diversity and inclusivity work at the municipal and community level, with a focus on anti-racism and anti-oppression. This work centers on a trauma-informed approach in order to ensure we do not cause further harm to those most marginalized in our communities. Visit her website at: https://ketciapeters.com/