As part of ongoing engagement we are having with the NAJC BC Redress team on Japanese Canadian Redress, the BC Government wishes to invite a member of the Japanese Canadian community to sit on the Province’s Multicultural Advisory Council.
The Multicultural Advisory Council (MAC) is a 12-member, volunteer citizens’ council that meets quarterly with the Minister and/or Parliamentary Secretary responsible for multiculturalism and anti-racism in B.C. to advice them on multiculturalism and anti-racism issues. In recent years, in addition to the NAJC, Council members have been instrumental in advocating for new initiatives to address racism, including the introduction of a new Anti-Racism Act and race-based data legislation. Members are directly involved in the Province’s annual anti-racism awards ceremony, speak at key events such as the Province’s 2020 Anti-Racism Town Hall and support ministry staff in preparing the Province’s annual Report on Multiculturalism. Recently, some of the members also presented on the Council’s behalf to the Police Act Review Committee.
Council members are asked to attend a minimum of four 2-hour meetings per year to provide their advice and recommendations on key government initiatives and are given the option to take on additional duties if they have time. Meetings typically take place during business hours, often on Monday or Friday mornings. During the pandemic, meetings have been taking place via Zoom although they normally take place in person at the downtown Vancouver Cabinet Office (Canada Place).
Members are required to be B.C. residents – travel to meetings from anywhere in B.C. is reimbursed by the Province.
Given that anti-racism is one of the NAJC’s key pillars in the redress initiative, having an NAJC member participate in the Multicultural Advisory Council would be a valuable way to ensure they are able to give direct input into provincial anti-racism initiatives.
In order to be considered for an appointment, we ask that interested candidates please do the following by February 18, 2022:
Step 1: Fill out a Candidate Profile and Declaration Form and submit along with a resume by email to multiculturalism@gov.bc.ca
Step 2: Create an account and a profile on the Crown Agencies and Board Office website: https://www.bcpublicsectorboardapplications.gov.bc.ca/s/
Click “Create New Account” and then click “Create your profile”
Once received, the ministry and Crown Agencies and Board Office will send applications to the Minister of Attorney General and the Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives to review and, subject to their direction, arrange for one appointment to go through an Order in Council process.
The NAJC will not be involved in the recommendation or selection process, and would like candidates to apply directly to the BC Government. Any additional inquiries can be made to Susanne Tabata, BC Redress Project Director ace@najc.ca
