Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion
The Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion brings together experts and community leaders from across the country to provide advice on strengthening social cohesion, rallying Canadians around shared identity, and combatting racism and hate in all their forms, including but not limited to the forms of hate and racism outlined in Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy and Canada’s Action Plan on Combatting Hate.
The Advisory Council will help build a more inclusive and united Canada, grounded in our shared values, and rooted in the belief that far more unites us than divides us.
Background
The Government of Canada is committed to a comprehensive, cross government approach to remove barriers faced by marginalized communities and make Canada more inclusive, fair and safer for all. The creation of an Advisory Council on Rights, Equality and Inclusion (Advisory Council or Council) is a federal initiative aimed at restoring the dignity of communities and individuals who have experienced racism and hate and bring together federal initiatives that combat these persistent issues in Canada.
Council Mandate
The Council plays an advisory role to the Government of Canada. The Council is not a decision-making body and does not have the authority to make decisions engaging the Government of Canada, direct public service activities, or commit public funds.
The Council’s mandate is to:
- Engage with communities from coast to coast to coast to build bridges between communities and combat all forms of racism and hate, including but not limited to the forms of hate and racism outlined in Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy and Canada’s Action Plan on Combatting Hate.
- Bring together initiatives within government, civil society and other organizations working in the space of social cohesion, to inform and support Government of Canada efforts with a view to foster greater collaboration, reduce duplication, and better coordinate Government-wide efforts to protect rights and promote equality and social inclusion.
- Create a network of trusted leaders from all communities—including civil society, academia, youth leaders and Indigenous Peoples—to provide expert advice to inform the Council’s work and to promote common goals of protecting rights, and to promote equality and inclusion of all communities.
- Provide reports, studies and other advice to support the Minister including on issues related to racism and hate in all their forms, with a focus on communities most at risk, as well as social cohesion.
- Develop advice on a common narrative about the shared identity and values of all Canadians that fosters trust, belonging and understanding among communities.
- Work with Indigenous Peoples to advance the Council’s mandate.
- Set deliverables to fulfill the mandate and a timeline to report on the deliverables.
Composition
The Council is composed of no more than nine members, in addition to the Chair. It is comprised of prominent Canadians with expertise and experience in the field of social cohesion and national unity. The Council will convene individuals who are experts, leaders, and academics to rally Canadians around shared identity, and combat all forms of racism and hate.
The Chair may also appoint ex-officio members to the Council for a defined period of time.
Roles and Responsibilities
Chair
The Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture will chair the Council.
The Chair will host and convene the Council.
The Chair may designate an individual to act as Chair in their stead, including but not limited to the Deputy Minister or Associate Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage; a Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister; or any individual the Minister deems capable of acting as Chair.
The Chair is responsible for engaging with members and establishing a healthy environment for deliberation and dialogue.
Council Members
Each member will be on a 2-year term, which may be renewed. Terms may be staggered.
Council members serve at the pleasure of the Minister.
Council members will hold the following responsibilities:
- Have and maintain an awareness of specific or broader issues as they affect diverse and pluralistic communities served by Canada’s Anti Racism Strategy and/or Canada’s Action Plan on Combatting Hate.
- Identify and contribute topics for consideration and contribute to agenda items.
- Offer advice and comments on the implementation of the Strategy and Action Plan and on the development and implementation of policies, programs, legislation, and services that address racism and hate in all their forms.
- Discuss and gather the views of diverse groups through engagement activities with various communities across the country.
- Participate in a collaborative and constructive manner that advances Council outcomes and upholds public confidence in its mandate.
- Commit to address separate concerns stemming from their role through dialogue.
- Commit to respect the values underlying the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Canadian Human Rights Act, and to not undermine Canada’s Anti-Racism Strategy 2024-2028.
With support from the Secretariat, the Council shall, within four months after the end of each fiscal year, complete a report on the activities of the Council for that year. At the Minister’s discretion, this report, or a summary of it, may be published.
Secretariat
Canadian Heritage will provide secretariat services for the Council, performing functions including but not limited to:
- Maintaining membership lists and coordinates.
- Circulating agendas, minutes and documentation to Council members.
- Organizing materials and all logistics for formal Council meetings.
- Ensuring all Council materials are accessible and provided in English and French.
- Supporting Council members and the Chair in their roles and responsibilities, including preparing report and studies on behalf of the Council.
- Assisting the Council in ensuring that all official Council meeting materials and Council reports intended for publication are fully accessible.
- Soliciting research products from within the Government of Canada and providing them to the Council;
- Coordinating opportunities for the Council to meet with other Government of Canada organizations or advisory bodies on issues that intersect with its mandate;
- Supporting the preparation of studies and reports as directed by the Council; and
- Supporting the Council with setting up and delivering roundtables, listening events, and other events the Council facilitates in-line with its mandate.
Reimbursement
Council members will receive a per diem compensation, in alignment with the “Remuneration guidelines for part-time Governor in Council appointees in agencies, boards, and commissions.” Members are also able to receive reimbursement for travel and accommodation costs related to their participation in any in-person meetings of the Council in accordance with Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat Guidelines.
Official Council Meetings
Official Council meetings are convened by the Chair and facilitated by them or the individual designated by the Minister to act as Chair. The Minister may convene official meetings of the Council on specific issues, where appropriate.
Official Council meetings will be convened at least four times a year; at least two of these meetings will be in person. Additional meetings, as needed, may be held virtually. Virtual meetings must be held in camera.
Council deliberations will be in English and French. Simultaneous translation in English and in French will be provided at Council meetings. Accommodations will be made for any Council member who requests an alternative format. All documents issued by the Council will be in English and French. The Secretariat will support the costs incurred to meet accessibility requirements, interpretation and translation.
An official Council meeting may only take place when the Chair and a minimum of 6 members are present. Where quorum is not achieved, the meeting will be rescheduled. Meetings may, as needed, utilize remote or hybrid formats.
The Council may hold ad-hoc meetings, closed to non-members, upon concurrence of the Chair.
Council discussions are not intended to seek consensus but rather ensure that the Government of Canada continues to be well-informed as to the impact, or potential impact, of racism and hate on communities and individuals in Canada.
Guests and Observers
The Chair may invite other ministers with related mandates and responsibilities -- such as the Ministers of Justice, Public Safety, and Women and Gender Equality -- to participate as guests in the Council’s official meetings.
The Chair may invite observers from appropriate Government of Canada organizations or advisory bodies, external organizations as well as subject matter experts to support a specific agenda item under discussion.
Confidentiality
To encourage Council members to express themselves freely and candidly, Council meetings observe the Chatham House Rule. Members may mention the information discussed however the identity of the speaker(s) may not be revealed.
Members will be required to sign a Confidentiality Agreement that applies to information received in writing or verbally, including through email correspondence, video or phone calls and print materials, as well as during presentations and discussions at official and non-official Council meetings.
All documents prepared by the Council are confidential and are the property of the Department of Canadian Heritage. The Chair may, at their discretion, publish any documents prepared by the Council.
Disclosure of affiliations and interests
Before being appointed to the Council by the Minister, a potential member must disclose all personal affiliations and interests, including any direct financial interests and other affiliations and interests that relate to the mandate of the Council (e.g., financial support received from a civil society organization, participation in an activity sponsored by a commercial enterprise, or published or publicly stated points of view related to the Council’s mandate).
Members are required to avoid any real or perceived conflicts of interest by ensuring their actions are not perceived as benefiting their personal interests or those of any entity to which they have a connection.
Canadian Heritage will be responsible for identifying and managing any conflict of interest involving a Council member that may emerge, in keeping with the Government of Canada’s Guide to Mitigating Conflicts of Interest in Procurement.
Given that Council members serve at the pleasure of the Minister, the Minister may limit the participation of a Council member with respect to an agenda item or meeting topic, depending on the nature of the member’s affiliations or interests.
Security
All members must obtain and maintain an appropriate federal security clearance in order to participate in discussions on programs and services.
Reporting
Minutes of the Council meetings will be drafted by the Secretariat and shared with Council members in English and in French.
A summary of official Council meetings may be made public, at the Minister’s discretion.
Communications
Only the Minister, in their capacity as Chair, may prepare official statements or speak on behalf of the Council. As such, Canadian Heritage will respond to media inquiries or public questions relevant to the Council as a body, such as questions regarding Council meeting discussion, activities, or advice that members are developing for the Minister.
Members may publicly communicate and refer in general terms to their work as members of the Advisory Council, as well as speak to their experience and expertise. Members must observe the Chatham House Rule and must not disclose the advice that they are developing for the Minister, nor should they speak as an individual on behalf of the Council.
Examples of information that members may share publicly, in the media and with community members include:
- unclassified information of a general nature (e.g., presentation from a local organization).
- high level summaries of the topics discussed at a meeting.
- information that is already available in the public domain (e.g., public consultations and news releases).
- photographs taken during Council working lunches, dinners and meetings provided by the Secretariat and any videos produced to spotlight a member or the work of the Council.
- details of their engagements with the general public or specific communities on behalf of the Council.
Examples of information that members cannot share beyond the Council/its meetings and work to advance its mandate include:
- any information identified by a subject matter expert or the Secretariat as “not for distribution”.
- contact information of another member or a government official without their prior consent.
- specific opinions, views, positions or experiences shared at a meeting that are attributed to a specific individual.
Canadian Heritage can, with a member’s permission, help triage media requests for individual members.