Bill 291, Anti-Racism Amendment Act (Anti-Asian Racism and Incidents of Hate), 2021

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill amends several provisions in the Anti-Racism Act, 2017 to include anti-Asian racism alongside other prominent examples of racism that are subject to the Act. The amendments require the Minister responsible for the Act to consult with members and representatives of the Asian community on the anti-racism strategy.

The Bill also requires the Government of Ontario to include initiatives to reduce the incidence of hate crimes in its anti-racism strategy.

Bill 291 2021

An Act to amend the Anti-Racism Act, 2017 with respect to anti-Asian racism and hate crimes

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1 The Preamble to the Anti-Racism Act, 2017 is amended by adding “anti-Asian racism” after “anti-Black racism”.

2 (1)  Subsection 2 (2) of the Act is amended by adding the following paragraph:

2.1  Initiatives to reduce the incidence of hate crimes.

(2)  Subsection 2 (4) of the Act is amended by adding “anti-Asian racism” after “anti-Black racism”.

3 (1)  Subsection 4 (3) of the Act is amended by adding “Asian” after “Black”.

(2)  Subsection 4 (5) of the Act is amended by adding “anti-Asian racism” after “anti-Black racism”.

4 Subsection 5 (2) of the Act is amended by adding “Asian” after “Black”.

Commencement

5 This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

6 The short title of this Act is the Anti-Racism Amendment Act (Anti-Asian Racism and Incidents of Hate), 2021.