The Future is Now: A message from the Minister of National Defence

February 2, 2021 - Defence Stories

This month, as we celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Black Canadians, let us also reflect on recent events and think about how we can build a better future together. A future that is more equitable, more just and more inclusive.

The uncomfortable truth is that anti-Black racism and discrimination continues to exist in this country and beyond our borders. Last year, the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked outrage, and prompted much-needed conversations around Canadian dinner tables and boardroom tables about how we must build a more inclusive society for all citizens, not just the privileged.

The entire leadership of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces recognizes the urgency of this conversation. This year’s Black History Month theme, The Future is Now, is a call for each of us on the Defence Team to build a future where discrimination, bias and anti-Black racism are no longer a painful reality. I have been deeply moved by public servants and CAF members who came forward this past year to share their lived experiences. Traumatic and difficult as some of these stories are, you shared them so that we can all learn and more importantly, take actions towards meaningful change. It is up to each of us to dismantle the deeply entrenched systems that have long excluded certain groups at National Defence.

The Defence Team is more determined than ever to eliminate every kind of harmful behaviour wherever we see it in the organization. There is simply no room for anti-Black racism, white supremacy or any other hateful ideology anywhere in the Canadian Armed Forces. It will not be tolerated.

In fact, we are so determined to see results that we launched the Hateful Conduct policy, the Advisory Panel on Systemic Racism and Discrimination, and the Anti-Racism Secretariat – all in less than a year. While these are certainly welcome steps, the Deputy Minister, CDS and I realize we must do more to build an organization where all feel welcome. We are listening, learning from past mistakes, and doing everything necessary to prevent harm and build a positive, respectful working environment for all Defence Team members.

Canadians expect their Defence Team to reflect the diverse nation we serve: a vibrant mosaic of cultures, ethnicities and lived experiences. In embracing diversity, we embrace what it means to be Canadian. For me, diversity has never been a slogan or a hashtag. It has always been deeply personal. And it’s been a part of the CAF’s operational effectiveness as a fighting force.

Black History Month is not a slogan or a hashtag. It’s a call to honour past sacrifices. It’s also a call to redouble our efforts to eliminate discrimination, dismantle barriers and create a better future built upon anti-racism, inclusion and respect.

The future is now: all of us need to put in the work to eliminate systemic discrimination and white supremacy from our organization.

The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan
Minister of National Defence