…of Simcoe Muskoka residents identified themselves as a visible minority (person, other than Aboriginal people, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour).

There are racial and ethnic differences in health that are caused by differences in income, power and control over one’s life. Visibly minorities may experience a range of unpleasant living conditions that effect their health. Examples of these conditions include higher unemployment, lower income, lack of trust in health-care, lack of good housing and unequal access to education and other social resources. 

Systemic racism (when a system, not a person, creates or maintains racial inequity) affects the health of visible minorities. This can be caused by hidden or unintentional biases in policies, practices and procedures. These biases can create positive or negative consequences to groups of people in a particular race. These system issues may include language barriers, lack of cultural awareness, unconscious racial bias, or inaccessible/culturally inappropriate screening services. These in turn can create racial inequities in the delivery of health care and in health outcomes.

What can be done?

Governments can:

• Collect data about race which is permitted and in accordance with Canada’s human rights legislation.
• Create policies to allow more foreign-trained immigrants to practice their work in Canada.
• Create a legislative framework for anti-racism work that would ensure its sustainability and accountability beyond political cycles.

Resource:

Colour Coded Health Care