Canada's military needs reflection on 'white fragility:' DND

Published Mar 14, 2023 • Last updated Mar 14, 2023 • 1 minute read

Canada's Prime minister Justin Trudeau talks with soldiers during a visit of the Adazi military base, north east of Riga, Latvia, on March 8, 2022. Photo by Toms Norde /AFP via Getty Images

The Department of National Defence believes Canada’s military needs to reflect on “white fragility,” according to Blacklock’s Reporter.

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“Racism and discrimination still manifests in our workplaces through bias, privilege, policies and power dynamics,” said a companion Guide To Courageous Conversations On Racism And Discrimination, according to Blacklock’s. “The defence team must put compassionate effort into practice to actively become an anti-racist organization. We all have to do the work in shifting mindsets and promoting an inclusive workplace, and acknowledge that together we’re different.

Those in the military must “ask racially and culturally grounded questions about yourself to increase awareness of seen (consciously known), unseen (unknown) and unforeseen (anticipated) issues,” the guide added.

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“Consider how history and politics shape or influence your personal experiences and that of colleagues within your organization,” it advised. “Engaging in dialogue is the first step to understanding one another. The goal of these conversations is to raise awareness and consciousness, with hopes that a deeper understanding and empathy will lead to a commitment to shift mindsets and behaviours.”

The military in a 2017set quotas for recruitment of visible minorities. Military targets state by 2026 the quota must increase from eight to 12%. But the Royal Canadian Air Force Journal in a 2020 commentary said the higher quota was “almost impossible to achieve” due to lack of interest in military careers by minority groups.

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