International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: March 21, 2025

We mark this day at a devastating moment in the fight for equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).

Across the United States (U.S.), President Trump’s administration and corporations – including some with a significant presence in Canada – that once pledged to prioritize EDI are turning their backs on these commitments. All U.S. federal agencies are mandated to eliminate references to “DEI” (as “EDI” is otherwise known), framing it as a reorientation away from what they label a “woke ideology.” Echoing the McCarthy era – a period of extreme political repression and persecution of advocates, scholars and program leaders in the U.S. – documents, reports and books that reference EDI are being literally and figuratively burned. In the name of “anti-wokeness,” museums are cancelling exhibits, funding to libraries and academic institutions is being slashed, and history is being erased.

Here in Canada, we cannot ignore the political forces aligned with Trump-style ideologies that have been gaining ground – evident in the open attacks on transgender people and other equity-deserving communities – by political leaders such as premier of Alberta, Danielle Smith and federal Conservative Party leader, Pierre Poilievre.

As we enter a federal election period, it is imperative that we protect our sovereignty, including standing up for EDI and the values that most Canadians hold dear. This must remain top of mind as people head to the polls.

RNAO is vigilant and steadfast in condemning racism and all forms of discrimination. We are unwavering in our commitment to continue working with elected officials, health organizations, the media and the public to end systemic racism and all forms of discrimination. Racialized groups in Canada remain deeply marginalized, with poverty rates 30 per cent higher than the general population – and 75 per cent higher for Indigenous peoples. Further, people experiencing homelessness are disproportionately racialized and/or Indigenous.

Racial discrimination is a key determinant of health. In Canada, race is associated with a higher risk of chronic disease and related ill health, making racism a primary driver of health inequities.

Racism and discrimination harm nurses themselves, the profession, and the health system – undermining retention and recruitment efforts as described in RNAO’s Black Nurses Task Force report.

We are pleased that the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) acted on a recommendation from that report. Last year, CNO conducted its first-ever Workforce Census survey, collecting race and equity-based data, and released the findings in October 2024. We look forward to the continuation of this work, which will generate meaningful data to identify gaps and challenges in EDI faced by racialized nurses.

Thanks to RNAO’s sustained advocacy, many of the 19 recommendations made by the Black Nurses Task Force have been implemented. Several have been integrated into RNAO’s provincial and federal pre-budget submissions and policy recommendations on proposed legislation and regulations. The Black Nurses Leading Change Interest Group (BLNC) – with origins in the work of the task force – continues to inform RNAO and our members on issues affecting Black nurses and nursing students. For more on RNAO’s efforts to address systemic anti-Black racism, visit the Black Nurses and RNAO In Focus webpage.

The Indigenous Health Program at RNAO continues to strengthen partnerships with provincial and national Indigenous organizations by developing new evidence-based Best Practice Guidelines (BPGs) with and for Indigenous communities. Through our Best Practice Spotlight Organization® (BPSO®) program, we work alongside Indigenous health providers to integrate scientific evidence with Indigenous knowledge and traditions to support community health and wellness. The Indigenous Nurses and Allies Interest Group (INAIG) is advancing Indigenous representation and education in nursing and health care to create safer, more inclusive, and accessible spaces for Indigenous peoples. To learn more about RNAO’s reconciliation efforts and collective action with Indigenous peoples, visit the Indigenous Health and RNAO In Focus webpage.

Our Health Equity Consortium – a joint effort of the BLNC, the INAIG and the Rainbow Nursing Interest Group – responds to needs identified by RNAO’s health equity interest groups. It provides a safe and supportive space for quarterly meetings where representatives share experiences with discrimination, reflect on challenges, and collaborate on dismantling systemic racism in the nursing profession and the broader health system. In late 2024, the consortium published an article in the Canadian Journal of Nursing Research that provides critical insights about advancing health equity within nursing.

In February, RNAO’s video showcasing our work with health equity interest groups won gold at the Canadian Online Publishing Awards. We encourage you to watch it and hear directly from members John Edwards, Victoria Guido and Lori Zozzolotto, who represent the 2SLGBTQI+, Indigenous, and Black nursing communities. The video features their powerful panel discussion on EDI held at Queen’s Park in February 2024. And, in a recent special edition of RNJ marking the 25th anniversary of RNAO’s BPG program, we feature an article exploring the connection between the BPG movement and pressing social issues such as racism and discrimination.

In consultation and partnership with equity-deserving groups and nurses, RNAO remains staunchly committed to advancing a future where systemic equality is a reality within the nursing profession and across the health system.