The government of Ontario recently cemented its commitment to be a leader against systemic racism with the passing of legislation designed to provide equality in polices, programs and services.

The government passed the Anti-Racism Act of 2017 and said in a statement that the legislation will strengthen its commitment to combat racism and create an environment for equal opportunity.

“Ontario is taking a stance against systemic racism, positioning our province as an anti-racism leader in the country,” Michael Coteau, Ontario’s minister of children and youth services, said in a release.

The Anti-Racism Act ensures anti-racism directorate in legislation, requires regular reviews of anti-racism strategy and mandates a minimum five-year review of the strategy with the public and community partners, according to a press release. The act also allows the government to collect race data and to use an anti-racism impact assessment tool to fix and prevent any racial impacts.

“This legislation will enable us to build greater racial equity and build an even stronger Ontario by fighting systemic racism, including anti-Black racism, anti-Indigenous racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia and discrimination facing other racialized communities,” Coteau said in the release.

The government also said in its announcement that the legislation is part of its plan to create jobs and promote growth in the economy.