Chetna Association of Canada applauded the City of Seattle for passing a law on February 21st and banning caste-based discrimination in businesses and other public settings. The initiative led by Seattle Councillor, Kshama Sawant, saw a support of 6 out of 7 councillors, signalling an overwhelming support by city’s elected officials.  In addition the ordinance received support and endorsement of local, national, and International organisations representing multi-faith and social sectors from across the world, including, Chetna Association of Canada.

By Jai Birdi – Chetna Association Canada

SURREY – Chetna Association of Canada applauded the City of Seattle for passing a law on February 21st and banning caste-based discrimination in businesses and other public settings. 

The initiative led by Seattle Councillor, Kshama Sawant, saw a support of 6 out of 7 councillors, signalling an overwhelming support by city’s elected officials.  In addition the ordinance received support and endorsement of local, national, and International organisations representing multi-faith and social sectors from across the world, including, Chetna Association of Canada.

There are many similarities between Seattle and the lower mainland of BC.  Therefore, there are opportunities to exchange and leverage learning from each other.

Just as Bellevue Tech Hub has gained prominence recently, similarly, Vancouver is expected to become the “next tech hub of North America”.  There are many other similarities between Seattle and the lower mainland, including migration patterns. 

Burnaby, Surrey, and the Province of BC have supported awareness campaigns by proclaiming April 14 – Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Day of Equality since 2020.

Incidents of casteist slurs continue to be received and reported by the local media in Canada.

Awareness campaigns alone are not sufficient.  Legislations such as the one passed by Seattle are also needed in Canada.  One of the reasons India made strong advancements towards equality is its legal framework provided by the Constitution.  In absence of the legal framework, social reforms would have been less effective and certainly not sustained for over 70 years.

Two years ago, Chetna Association of Canada made a presentation to Surrey Council and requested that the City of Surrey consider making it a “caste free zone”.  It is time that the City of Surrey revisit the request and consider passing a similar law.  Other cities of the lower mainland should also consider doing the same.

The upcoming Dr. Ambedkar International Symposium on Emancipation from April 21 to 24, 2023, will have one session on Caste in academic settings in Canada and other jurisdictions.  This will provide highlights of how caste based discrimination in universities is being proactively addressed and identify actions and strategies that need to take.  

The Seattle Ordinance (I call it the “Sawant Ordinance”) was successful because it received support from a broad range of social and multi-faith groups.  Such support from diverse groups also decimated criticism of some organisations who saw no justification for the ‘Sawant Ordinance’.

By working together in addressing Caste for over forty years in the Vancouver area, a broad-based support against casteism and in favour of “Sarbat Da Bhala ” already exists.  Let us leverage this to take the movement to the next level of strengthening equality.

As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said: “No one is free until everyone is free”.  Similarly, “no one is equal until everyone is equal”.

By addressing one inequality at a time, equality for all will be generated, said Chetna .