Terms of Reference for the External Advisory Committee on Anti-Black Racism

References

Ref A National Apology Advisory Committee - Minister of National Defence Report - Canada.ca (Recommendation #8)

Ref B National Joint Council Travel Directive

On this page

1. Purpose and Authority
2. Guiding Principles
3. Scope and Responsibilities
4. Membership
5. Operations
6. Support & Resources
7. Review & Evaluation

1. Purpose and Authority

The External Advisory Committee on Anti-Black Racism (EACABR) is established following Recommendation 8 of the National Apology to the Members and Descendants of No. 2 Construction Battalion (N2CB).

The EACABR serves a critical role in addressing and combatting anti-Black racism within the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the Department of National Defence (DND) by offering strategic guidance, informed advice, and actionable recommendations to the Minister of National Defence (MND) and senior Canadian Armed Forces leadership

The EACABR maintains a close partnership with the Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia (BCCNS) to ensure the historical legacy of the N2CB and the longstanding Black presence in Canada inform ongoing work.

EACABR is advisory only and does not direct operations or personnel matters.

2. Guiding Principles

EACABR’s work is grounded in the following principles, adapted to the Defence Team context:

• Cultural Humility: Members recognize the role of power and privilege within military and defence institutions, and commit to ongoing learning, self-reflection, and openness to challenge inequities.
• Intersectionality of Racism: Anti-Black racism is experienced differently across communities and within Black communities themselves (e.g., by gender, 2SLGBTQI+, language, disability, immigration status). EACABR’s advice acknowledges these layered experiences.
• Evidence-Informed Approach: Recommendations are grounded in data, research, and lived experience, ensuring decisions are both rigorous and practical.
• Inclusive Engagement: Black Defence Team members, military, civilian, veterans, families, and descendants of N2CB, must be meaningfully included at every stage of consultation, planning, and decision-making.
• Historical Impact: Work is informed by Canada’s history of slavery, segregation, systemic exclusion, and the legacy of N2CB, ensuring recommendations acknowledge historical injustices while advancing reconciliation.
• Organizational Impact: Systemic barriers span all commands, levels, and units. Addressing anti-Black racism requires institution-wide collaboration and accountability.
• Restorative Approach: EACABR prioritizes repairing trust and relationships between individuals, communities, and institutions. Advice will consider both harms and pathways to healing, linking recommendations to real, sustained change.
• Trauma-Informed Practice: Committee operations and recommendations are sensitive to the impacts of trauma. Members commit to fostering psychologically safe spaces and ensuring Defence policies minimize re-traumatization.
• Universal Benefit: Reducing systemic barriers for Black Defence Team members improves equity and inclusion across the institution, creating a healthier and more effective workplace for all.

3. Scope and Responsibilities

The EACABR provides strategic advice by:

• Identifying systemic barriers and assessing the impact of anti-Black racism within DND/CAF.
• Reviewing policies, practices, and programs, and recommending reforms.
• Monitoring progress and advising on performance indicators.
• Engaging with Defence stakeholders, Black communities, and partner organizations.
• Collaborating with BCCNS on two annual remembrance events.

Deliverables:

• Quarterly Updates summarizing key advice and issues.
• Annual Public Report highlighting achievements, challenges, and next steps.
• Meeting Records with recommendations tracked for follow-up.

4. Membership

• Size: 10 to 12 members.
• Composition:
  • Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the BCCNS
  • 1 representative from 5th Canadian Division
  • 1 representative from the Minister’s Office (MNDO)
  • 1 representative from CAF/DND Functional Authority for Anti-Racism (see DAOD 1000-7), other than 5th Canadian Division
  • 6 to 8 independent external members, including at least two (2) descendants from the N2CB.
• Selection: Members are appointed by the MND through an open and transparent process, ensuring diversity of lived experience, expertise, and regional/linguistic representation.
• Term: Two (2) years, renewable once.
• Conflict of Interest: Members disclose and recuse from matters where conflicts arise.

Leadership:

• Co-Chairs: DND/CAF Level-1 Functional Authority for Anti-Racism (see DAOD 1000-7), and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the BCCNS, unless appointed otherwise by the MND. They guide meetings, agendas, and reporting.

Compensation and expenses:

• Appointed external Committee members will receive an honorarium for their participation on the Committee. Additionally, members will be reimbursed for pre-approved travel/expenses per the National Joint Council Travel Directive.

5. Operations

• Meetings: Quarterly virtual meetings plus one annual in-person meeting (linked to N2CB commemoration). Additional sessions as required.
• Decision-Making: Consensus-seeking; divergent views documented where consensus is not reached.
• Safe Space Commitment: Respectful, inclusive, and trauma-informed dialogue is mandatory.
• Confidentiality & Ethics: Members sign confidentiality agreements and uphold security, integrity, and impartiality.
• Dispute Resolution: Open discussion → Co-chairs mediation → Escalation to DND → External neutral mediation if needed.

6. Support & Resources

To ensure effective operation, DND/CAF and BCCNS share responsibility for administrative, research, and logistical support:

DND/CAF Secretariat (L1 Functional Authority for Anti-Racism):

• Accountable cost centre under Treasury Board guidelines.
• Provides funding, financial oversight, and reimbursement of member expenses per the National Joint Council Travel Directive.
• Supports research, policy analysis, and access to data.
• Maintains official records of decision and tracking of recommendations.

BCCNS Secretariat:

• Leads community engagement, descendant outreach, and awareness-building.
• Coordinates annual remembrance events in collaboration with DND.
• Provides logistical coordination for meetings, including venues and accommodations where required.

Shared Collaboration:

• Agenda preparation and distribution of bilingual materials.
• Planning of joint activities, remembrance events, and communications products.
• Ensuring trauma-informed facilitation and wellness support at meetings.

7. Review & Evaluation

• Annual Review: Committee conducts a self-assessment of impact and progress.
• Terms of Reference Review: Every two (2) years or sooner if directed by the DND or MND.
• Public Accountability: Reports and updates are published on Canada.ca, with sensitive information redacted as required.