Black people have had a presence in Canada for hundreds of years and are now one of the largest racialized groups in the country. Even so, across this country’s history, there have been only four Black Canadians in the federal cabinet, no Black provincial premiers, a handful of municipal mayors, and just 20 Black MPs. Canadians increasingly express a desire for more representative institutions, and governments at all levels have committed to anti-racist initiatives and to enhanced equity, diversity, and inclusion. Even so, elected institutions remain stubbornly unrepresentative. Why?
Our research aims to understand the experiences of Black Canadians in electoral politics. Through a survey, interviews, and archival research, we are creating a comprehensive record of Black Canadians who have run for and served in offices. Their stories are helping us understand the barriers to elected office, but also the opportunities and successes. We will be sharing their experiences on this website and in a documentary podcast scheduled for release in Fall 2024.