In recent years, the conversation around racism in Canada has shifted from an abstract societal issue to one that is deeply intertwined with public health. While many Canadians pride themselves on the country’s reputation for diversity and inclusion, the reality for many racialized communities tells a different story. Racism, both overt and systemic, is increasingly recognized not only as a social justice issue but as a public health crisis—one that disproportionately affects Black, Indigenous, and other marginalized groups across the nation.
The acknowledgment of racism as a public health crisis is grounded in decades of research that shows the significant effects of discrimination on mental and physical well-being. According to a 2020 report from the Wellesley Institute, racism is one of the key social determinants of health in Canada, with racialized groups experiencing poorer health outcomes compared to their white counterparts.
“Racism creates stress and trauma that have long-lasting effects on the health of individuals and communities,” says Dr. Kwame McKenzie, CEO of the Wellesley Institute. “It’s not just about access to health care; it’s about how the daily experiences of discrimination and microaggressions wear down a person’s body and mind. That’s something that must be addressed if we’re serious about tackling health inequities.”
The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the stark inequalities in health care access and outcomes between racialized and non-racialized Canadians. Data from Toronto Public Health in 2020 showed that racialized groups made up 83% of COVID-19 cases, despite accounting for only about half of the city’s population. This trend was mirrored across the country, where Black and Indigenous communities faced higher infection and mortality rates.
For many, the pandemic highlighted how structural racism within the health care system exacerbates existing disparities. “We saw that Black and Indigenous people were more likely to be frontline workers, more likely to live in overcrowded housing, and less likely to have access to protective measures,” says Dr. Samantha Green, a Toronto-based physician and advocate for racial health equity. “The pandemic didn’t create these inequalities; it just exposed and worsened them.”
One of the key drivers of these health disparities is systemic racism within Canada’s health care system. From implicit bias among health care providers to institutional policies that disadvantage marginalized communities, the health care system is often ill-equipped to meet the needs of racialized populations.
A 2022 report by the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) found that Black patients in Canada are more likely to be undertreated for pain and less likely to receive timely diagnoses for chronic conditions compared to white patients. Indigenous patients often report feeling unsafe or disrespected in medical settings, leading many to avoid seeking care altogether.
“I had to advocate for myself so hard just to get the right diagnosis,” says Tanya, a Black woman from Montreal who was repeatedly dismissed by doctors when she sought treatment for chronic pain. “I kept being told that it was ‘in my head,’ or that I was just being dramatic. It wasn’t until I saw a Black doctor that I was finally taken seriously.”
This experience is not unique. A 2021 survey by the Black Health Alliance found that 70% of Black Canadians feel that the health care system treats them unfairly due to their race. Similarly, a national survey conducted by the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) found that Indigenous people in Canada are more likely to experience discrimination in health care settings than non-Indigenous people.
The toll of racism on mental health cannot be overstated. The stress of navigating daily discrimination—whether in the workplace, school, or public spaces—contributes to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse among racialized communities.
“Racism is a form of trauma,” explains Dr. Sarah Williams, a clinical psychologist who specializes in treating racial trauma. “It may not always be a single, acute event, but rather a cumulative experience of being treated as ‘less than’ over time. This can lead to feelings of hopelessness, low self-worth, and even physical symptoms like chronic headaches or insomnia.”
A 2019 study published in The Lancet found that Black Canadians were nearly twice as likely as white Canadians to experience serious psychological distress. Indigenous people in Canada face similarly alarming statistics, with suicide rates among First Nations youth being five to seven times higher than those of non-Indigenous youth, according to Health Canada.
For many advocates, recognizing racism as a public health crisis is the first step toward meaningful change. However, they emphasize that addressing the root causes of this crisis requires more than just acknowledging its existence—it requires concrete action at every level of society.
“We need to start treating racism like the health crisis that it is,” says El Jones, a Black activist and scholar based in Halifax. “That means investing in community health programs that are culturally sensitive, training health care professionals to recognize and address their biases, and making sure that racialized voices are at the table when health policies are being made.”
Chief Dr. Robert Joseph, an Indigenous leader and founder of Reconciliation Canada, echoes these sentiments: “Our people have faced generations of trauma, from residential schools to ongoing discrimination in health care. We cannot move forward as a country until we address these systemic issues head-on and ensure that our communities have access to the care they need.
In 2020, the Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA) declared racism a public health crisis, calling on federal, provincial, and local governments to take urgent action. Their recommendations include funding for anti-racism education, increased access to mental health services for racialized communities, and targeted health interventions that address the specific needs of Black and Indigenous populations.
“We can’t just talk about racism in the abstract anymore,” says Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer. “We need to recognize that it has real, measurable impacts on the health of racialized Canadians. And we need to act accordingly—by ensuring that our health systems are equipped to serve everyone, regardless of race.”
Several provinces have also taken steps to address these issues. In Ontario, for example, the Black Health Equity Working Group was established in 2021 to develop strategies for improving health outcomes among Black Ontarians. In British Columbia, the provincial government launched an investigation into anti-Indigenous racism in health care following widespread reports of discrimination against Indigenous patients.
Racism in Canada is not just a social or moral issue—it is a public health crisis that threatens the well-being of millions of people across the country. The effects of this crisis are profound, touching every aspect of life for racialized communities, from mental and physical health to access to care and the quality of treatment received.
Addressing this crisis will require bold, systemic changes at all levels of society, from health care institutions to government policy. It will also require ongoing advocacy from communities most affected by racism, whose voices have too often been silenced or ignored.
As Canada moves forward in confronting its history of racial inequality, there is hope that the recognition of racism as a public health crisis will lead to meaningful, lasting change—creating a future where every Canadian, regardless of race, has an equal opportunity to thrive.
