While Ontario has made progress in addressing racism, continued action is essential. The government continues to enhance its anti-racism efforts by developing policies, initiatives and accountability measures to eliminate racial disparities and promote equity across public services. These efforts aim to ensure transparency, accountability and sustained progress toward a more equitable and prosperous Ontario.

Identifying and eliminating racial disparities

Strengthening standards and education for teachers

Anti-Black racism professional advisory for teachers

The professional advisory on anti-Black racism is an initiative of the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) that was published in 2021. The professional advisory is intended to provide advice and information to teachers on how to address anti-Black racism in their teaching by creating inclusive and supportive learning environments.

Anti-Black racism additional qualifications for teachers

The anti-Black Racism Additional Qualifications (AQ) was introduced into regulation in 2021. Part 1 of the AQ launched in 2022.

The anti-Black Racism AQ is structured as 3 separate courses:

  • part 1 introduces foundational knowledge and skills
  • part 2 deepens understanding
  • part 3 (specialist) prepares educators for leadership roles in anti-Black racism education

Since their introduction, enrolment in the anti-Black racism AQ courses has steadily increased. In 2022, 117 certified teachers completed Part 1. In 2023, 295 certified teachers completed Part 1, while 2 completed Part 2 and 14 completed the specialist course.

Additional Qualifications for teachers related to issues faced by Jewish communities

In March 2023, the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) Council approved a regulatory amendment to introduce a new Additional Qualification (AQ) titled Holocaust Education and Countering Antisemitism for teachers. As of June 2024, the OCT has released the course guideline and provided resources to support providers as they prepare to offer the AQ.

Resources made available through organizations such as:

This will enable course developers to identify historical events that may be referenced as a starting point to contextualize professional learning related to antisemitism and the Holocaust.

Regulation 304, school year calendar, professional activity days

Policy/Program Memorandum 151, Professional Activity Days Devoted to Provincial Education Priorities, outlines that school boards should consider equity, human rights and Indigenous rights in education, anti-racism and anti-discrimination when planning professional learning activities for Professional Activity Days.

The government recognizes the importance of professional learning in the areas of addressing anti-racism to enhance educators’ knowledge and skills for the effective support of all students and children.

Ontario Regulation 437/97, professional misconduct

Ontario Regulation 437/97 under the Ontario College of Teachers Act, 1996, was amended on November 5, 2020 to include behaviour and remarks of a discriminatory nature to the list of acts of professional misconduct.

Ontario Regulation 274/12 and implementing PPM 165: school board teacher hiring practices

Policy/Program Memorandum 165 (PPM 165), School board teacher hiring practices came into effect in March 2021 and requires school boards to develop teacher hiring policies focused on:

  • merit
  • diversity
  • unique school needs

PPM 165 applies to all teacher hiring processes initiated after Ontario Regulation 274/12: Hiring Practices was revoked in October 2020. Under PPM 165, policies must also align with:

To promote equity and diversity in hiring, school boards are encouraged to ensure that hiring panels include individuals with relevant knowledge and experience, including lived experience. This helps to reflect the needs and interests of communities in the school that have been historically under-represented in decision-making.

Locally driven population health models

In December 2020, the government introduced the Locally Driven Population Health Models, formerly the High Priority Communities Strategy, to improve health outcomes for underserved populations which include, but are not limited to:

  • Indigenous, Black and other racialized individuals
  • low-income individuals and people experiencing homelessness
  • people with disabilities

Many of these communities face racism in health care interactions, which has negatively impacted both their access to care and overall health outcomes. Since the initiative’s creation, $125.5 million has been allocated to local health and social service partners.

In 2024 to 2025, this initiative led to:

  • 1,048 new partnerships formed across 10 sectors
  • 152,555 community engagement interactions
  • 31,817 individuals referred, while almost 9,800 directly received wraparound supports
  • 6,178 individuals referred to primary care
  • 8,156 referrals for cancer screening
  • 3,873 individuals referred to mental health or addiction (MHA) supports
    • 2,087 individuals received MHA supports directly from Lead Agencies
  • 752 Naloxone kits distributed

Primary care remains a key priority for the government. This initiative will further support its broader mandate to ensure every Ontarian has access to high-quality primary care.

Development and Promotion of Anti-Racism Resources

The Anti-Racism Impact Assessment (ARIA) draft is an internal framework in development within the Ontario Public Service. This framework is being developed for the purpose of creating a final ARIA in accordance with the Anti-Racism Act, 2017, and is designed to assess and reduce racial inequities in policies and programs. It supports ministries using race-based data to improve outcomes for Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities.

In 2024, the ARIA Framework draft in development was revamped to deliver streamlined and accessible support for organizations in meeting all 43 standards under the Data Standards for the Identification and Monitoring of Systemic Racism. As of June 2025, the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism (MCM) has engaged over 115 organizations including:

  • school boards
  • children’s aid societies
  • police services

To date, ARIA presentations have been delivered to over 1,000 public servants across 12 ministries through 30 sessions. These engagements have helped build relationships and provide human rights, anti-racism and equity-focused supports to ensure organizations implement inclusive practices and improve accountability.

Engaging with communities and increasing the public awareness of the government’s anti-racism initiatives

Engagement with community partners

The Premier’s Council on Equality of Opportunity (PCEO) is an advisory group that champions community voices and provides advice to the government on how to help young people succeed in Ontario’s changing economy. The PCEO has engaged with various government partners to exchange feedback and propose initiatives focused on key priorities, including:

  • building a diverse and future-ready workforce
  • reducing youth unemployment
  • fostering innovation, entrepreneurship and talent growth across Ontario

Since May 2024, the PCEO has advised on over 20 initiatives across the government.

The Advocate for Community Opportunities (ACO) serves as a strategic advisor focused on advancing meaningful change for diverse communities. The ACO regularly collaborates with community and government partners to inform policy development and government action.

Continuing Ontario’s race-based data collection processes and supporting accountability by assessing the progress of anti-racism efforts and the Anti-Racism Strategy

Implementing race-based data collection in the Anti-Racism Act, 2017 (ARA)-regulated areas and initiatives

The Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism supports regulated public sector organizations (PSOs) in the justice, education and child welfare sectors to collect and analyze race-based data and publicly report findings in compliance with the Data Standards for the Identification and Monitoring of Systemic Racism (Anti-Racism Data Standards). Certain PSOs are required to collect and analyze race-based data. The findings are used to inform decisions on addressing systemic racial barriers and advancing racial equity for Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities.

Targets and indicators

In 2019, the province introduced specific targets and indicators to monitor the progress of race-based data collection. The 7 PSOs required to collect and analyze race-based data are further required to submit annual reports detailing their compliance and response rates. Compliance rates are governed by the Anti-Racism Act, 2017 (ARA). In the child welfare and education sectors, this rate indicates the percentage of PSOs actively collecting race-based data. Compliance rates in the justice sector refers to the percentage of programs, services and functions that are actively collecting race-based data. Response rates reflect the percentage of individuals who voluntarily share their race-based personal information. In the context of Use of Force reports, this refers to the percentage of police officers who report their perception of the individual's race.

Child welfare sector

Children’s aid societies

In Ontario, the 38 non-Indigenous children’s aid societies named in O. Reg. 267/18, Schedule 1 are required to gather identity-based data from the children and youth they serve. The collection of this data is voluntary and based on an informed consent model, and in accordance with Ontario’s Anti-Racism Act, 2017 and in compliance with reporting requirements to collect race-based data per ministerial Policy Directive: CW003-21.

In 2024, the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS) conducted engagements with service providers, program clients and community partners on the collection, use and privacy of identity-based data. Recommendations based on this feedback will inform updates to the ministry’s identity-based data collection framework to support analysis and reporting in transparent, ethical and community-informed ways.

The overall compliance rate for 2024 to 2025 is 100%. As of March 31, 2025, the response rate is 48.4%.

Education sector

School boards across the province each act as a public sector organization required by the Anti-Racism Act, 2017 to collect and analyze race-based data. The Ministry of Education (EDU) is continuing to provide funding supports to school boards to build their capacity to collect, analyze, report on and use voluntary student demographic data, including race-based data.

To ensure consistency in how school boards measure and report progress on student outcomes, the ministry set out Provincial Priorities for student achievement (O. Reg. 224/23) and released a Student Achievement Plan framework to guide school board improvement planning. School boards are required under O. Reg. 267/18 to collect and analyze voluntary race-based data in relation to the standardized measures and to create action plans to address identified disproportionalities.

The overall compliance rate for 2024 to 2025 is 100%. As of March 31, 2025, the response rate of students responding to all 72 Ontario school boards ranges from 5 to 83%.

Justice sector

Bail Process

In 2024 to 2025, the Ministry of the Attorney General (MAG) continued to collect race-based data from Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) bail clients. LAO clients represent 12% of the overall bail population in Ontario. A Data Assessment Report using data collected by LAO between July 2023 through to June 2024, determined that MAG is obtaining race-based data for approximately 7.4% of Ontario's total bail population. LAO continues to experience data collection challenges including a lower response rate from some bail participants to disclose this information to the government. MAG is developing options on how to improve race-based data collection in the bail process. The overall compliance rate for 2024 to 2025 is 8.8%. As of March 31, 2025, the response rate is 56.5%.

Special Investigations Unit

In response to the Special Investigations Unit’s (SIU) October 2023 race-based data report, electronic surveys were introduced in May 2024 for affected persons and subject officials. These mobile-friendly surveys are cost-effective, accessible and easy to use, with paper versions still available. The SIU values feedback and makes gradual improvements to ensure the data collection process is inclusive and sensitive. All new staff involved in data collection received orientation training, supported by experienced investigators and new methods like role playing. Regular reminders and updates on data collection are shared with all staff.

The overall compliance rate from April 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024 is 100% for both affected persons and subject officials. As of December 31, 2024, the response rate for affected persons is 16.1% and for subject officials is 3.4%.

Law Enforcement Complaints Agency

The collection of race-based data will allow the Law Enforcement Complaints Agency (LECA) to:

  • identify racial inequities
  • inform the development of policies and procedures
  • ensure its investigations and decisions are bias-free.

LECA has completed the analysis of 4 years’ worth of data and is preparing to publish the data set and the analysis at the end of fiscal year 2025 to 2026.The overall compliance rate for 2024 to 2025 is 100%. As of March 31, 2025, the response rate is 86%.

Use of Force, Policing

In August 2024, the Ministry of the Solicitor General (SOLGEN) released police use of force race-based data on the Ontario Data Catalogue, containing over 3 million data points extracted from Use of Force Reports for incidents that occurred in 2023. The technical report outlines data collection, cleaning, validation and limitations as well as results of descriptive analyses. A key update is the inclusion of disparity analyses, enabled by improved data quality from the revised Use of Force Report introduced on January 1, 2023. The report also offers recommendations for future improvements in data collection and analysis. The response rate for this PSO is not available as individuals do not have an option to decline to answer. The collection of race-based information is done indirectly through participant observer information.

The overall compliance rate for 2024 to 2025 is 100%.

Correctional services

In December 2024, SOLGEN released a technical report and open datasets for correctional services, which are available on the Ontario Data Catalogue. The report and datasets focus on race and identity-based data and use of force upon inmates in adult correctional institutions in 2023. The report includes details about:

  • how the data were collected
  • data cleaning processes
  • data limitations
  • results of descriptive analyses

In future releases, SOLGEN intends to expand the scope of analysis and reporting to additional aspects of correctional services, including outcomes relevant to community supervision.

All Ontario adult correctional institutions and all Ontario probation and parole offices are collecting race- and identity-based data from individuals as part of their intake processes. Approximately 77.8% of individuals who were under correctional supervision from October 2020 to March 2025 were asked for their race- and identity-based data for ARA analysis. Of those who were asked, approximately 65.8% consented and provided their data.

Youth justice

In 2024, MCCSS conducted engagements with service providers, program clients and community partners on the collection, use and privacy of identity-based data. Recommendations based on this feedback will inform updates to the MCCSS’ identity-based data collection framework to support the analysis and reporting in responsible, ethical and community-informed ways. The MCCSS Youth Justice Division continues to collaborate with ministry partners and gather feedback through engagements to inform report design and analysis. Disproportionality will be the focus for the next round of engagements to support responsible, ethical and community-informed reporting.

The overall compliance rate for 2024 to 2025 is 100%. As of April 2, 2025, the response rate is 66%.

Building inclusive systems: data, dialogue and accountability for equity in Ontario

The following initiatives are not included as part of the official Anti-Racism Strategy. However, in conjunction with the strategy, these initiatives continue to promote equity by addressing systemic barriers and ensuring that government services, policies and institutions are inclusive and responsive to the needs of the diverse populations in Ontario.

Data for equity: identity-based data standard and reporting plan

Initiated in 2022, data for equity uses inclusive and ethical data practices to improve services and promote equity by working with communities and partners to ensure data is used in culturally safe, responsive and trauma-informed ways. Between July and November 2024, 27 virtual engagements on identity-based data were held with over 250 participants. These sessions gathered feedback from service providers, clients and community organizations representing more than 50 organizations serving youth and priority populations from First Nations, Inuit, Métis, urban Indigenous, Black, 2SLGBTQIA+ and newcomer communities. The ministry will continue working with community partners to review the final engagement report and develop an implementation plan based on its recommendations to further inform policies and services.

Gender and diversity analysis data dashboard

The Office of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity (OWSEO) promotes gender diversity analysis (GDA) across the Ontario Public Service (OPS) to support the development of inclusive policies and programs. In 2022, the OWSEO launched the GDA Data Dashboard, a population-based tool that provides OPS staff with intersectional data on gender, race and socioeconomic status in Ontario. In 2025, the Dashboard was updated to expand the range of intersectional data on housing, socioeconomic status, employment and racialized groups. It also introduced gender-sensitive datasets that highlight issues disproportionately affecting women in Ontario. The Dashboard supports staff in applying a gender-inclusive and intersectional lens to develop more equitable, data-driven policies and programs.

Minister’s directive on anti-racism and anti-hate for publicly assisted colleges and universities

The Strengthening Accountability and Student Supports Act, 2024 (SASS Act) was passed and received Royal Assent in May 2024. The SASS Act amended the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act (MTCU Act) to require Ontario’s publicly assisted colleges and universities to have publicly available policies to address and combat racism and hate, including but not limited to:

  • antisemitism
  • Islamophobia
  • anti-Indigenous racism
  • anti-Black racism

The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act, 1990 also authorizes the Minister to issue directives relating to these institutional policies. In September 2024, a Minister’s Directive on Anti-Racism/Anti-Hate was issued to the sector. The directive outlines specific requirements for anti-racism/anti-hate policies at publicly assisted colleges and universities, including requirements for a complaint mechanism.

Institutional policies apply to the campus community, including students, faculty, staff, management and visitors, including guest speakers. There are approximately 882,000 full-time domestic and international students at 47 publicly assisted colleges and universities in Ontario who will be impacted by this directive. This Act is promoting safe and inclusive campuses that are free from harassment and discrimination so students can focus on gaining the skills they need to thrive in their careers.

Catalyst conversations

Initiated in December 2024, catalyst conversations is a government speakers’ series aimed to inspire dialogue about gender and diversity analysis (GDA) across the Ontario Public Service. The sessions have been attended by over 750 attendees across 25 ministries.

The initiative reflects the government’s commitment to spark meaningful dialogue and transformative change. Each session features thought leaders and experts who share insights and strategies for embedding gender and diversity analysis and considerations into our daily work.

The government is planning to hold regular catalyst conversations for the 2025 to 2026 year to continue important discussions on gender and diversity analysis.

Topics will include initiatives and research related to gender-based violence and women’s economic opportunities.