Teresa Wat, Minister of International Trade and Minister Responsible for Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism issued the following statement in response to new reports of racist flyers distributed in Richmond.

“Racism and discrimination of any kind have no place in B.C. In our great province and country, it is vital to remain steadfast in our goal to create an inclusive environment for all cultures that celebrates their diversity and refuses to tolerate racism and hatred.

“While incidents of racism are always disturbing, I am heartened to see that so many British Columbians, community leaders and educators are standing in solidarity and speaking out against the racist sentiments expressed in the flyers recently distributed in Richmond.

“That is why British Columbia’s provincial Organizing Against Racism and Hate (OARH) community networks are so important. These networks allow communities throughout B.C. to lead their own responses to acts of racism and hate.

“OARH anti-racism funding helps community organizations throughout the province to challenge racism and celebrate diversity by supporting a wide variety of community anti-racism projects. Thirty-three B.C. community organizations are sharing over $217,000 in provincial OARH funding.

“As the most ethnically diverse province in Canada, increased participation by all cultures is vitally important to the creation of a strong and vibrant social and economic future for B.C.”