External Ministerial Advisory Committee on Anti-Black Racism
On this page
- About the External Ministerial Advisory Committee
- Committee members
- Meetings and activities
- Additional information
About the External Ministerial Advisory Committee
The External Ministerial Advisory Committee on Anti-Black Racism (the Committee) fulfills the Government of Canada’s commitment to the eighth and final recommendation of the National Apology Advisory Committee (NAAC) Report, created in response to the systemic discrimination endured by No. 2 Construction Battalion.
No. 2 Construction Battalion was created on July 5, 1916, in Pictou, Nova Scotia, during the First World War. It was a segregated non-combatant unit, the largest all-Black battalion-sized formation in Canadian military history.
Throughout the war, members of No. 2 Construction Battalion faced overt and unspoken systemic racism, yet showed resilience, determination, and strength in the face of adversity. Following the end of the First World War, the unit was officially disbanded on September 15, 1920, without ceremony or recognition for its service or sacrifices on behalf of Canada.
Purpose and authority
The Committee’s work will honour the legacy of No. 2 Construction Battalion and help enhance operational capabilities by fostering an inclusive environment, where every member of the Defence Team is valued and respected.
The Committee and its members will play a critical role in addressing and combatting anti-Black racism within the Defence Team by offering strategic guidance, informed advice, and actionable recommendations to the Minister of National Defence and senior leadership. The Committee has an advisory-only mandate and does not direct operations or personnel matters.
The Committee keeps a close partnership with the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia (BCCNS) so that the historical legacy of No. 2 Construction Battalion and the longstanding Black presence in Canada inform ongoing work.
Composition
- Two co-chairs:
- Chief Executive Officer of the BCCNS
- A representative from the Canadian Army
- One representative from the Office of the Minister of National Defence
- One representative who is the Defence Team’s functional authority responsible for anti-racism efforts (see DAOD 1000-7)
- Nine independent external members, including at least two Descendants from No. 2 Construction Battalion
- The Committee Secretariat will provide administrative support, such as agenda preparation, records of decision, and coordination.
For more information on the Committee, their guiding principles, scope and responsibilities, membership, or compensation and expenses, please consult the Terms of Reference.
Independent external members
- Juanita DeSouza-Huletey
- Raymond Edwards
- Sean Foyn
- Louis Edgar Jean-François
- Kevin Junor
- Doreen L. Gibson (Door)
- Roselyne Mavungu
- Rosemary Sadlier
- Craig Smith
Meetings and activities
July 4, 2026: Announcement of committee members
The July 4, 2026, announcement of the committee members took place at the No. 2 Construction Battalion Remembrance Ceremony and Honour Parade, in Pictou, Nova Scotia, where members of the Defence Team, the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, and families and community members gathered to pay tribute to Canada’s only all-Black battalion.
The Honourable David J. McGuinty, Minister of National Defence, announced the nine newly appointed external Committee members and wished them well as they begin their work to help advance meaningful and sustained culture evolution across the Defence Team.