Logo DesignFacts About African
Nova Scotians
Population
- 19,670 African Nova Scotians (Statistics Canada, 2001)
- 90 per cent are 64 years of age or younger
- More than 25 per cent are 14 years of age or younger, compared to 18.2 per cent for the general population of Nova Scotia
TopCurrent Situation
African Nova Scotian communities have not always had equitable access to health services, education, or the justice system. Many African Nova Scotian communities have not been able to maintain their community halls and centres. Excluding churches, very few African Nova Scotian organizations own property. African Nova Scotian communities struggle to provide a range of activities for adolescents, youth, seniors, and families. There are large numbers of incarcerated youth. Community cohesion is not as strong as it has been in the past.
Numerous reports, submissions, and recommendations have attempted to define the problems, provide solutions, or establish corrective measures. However, government's accountability and resources for specific initiatives have not been consistent. There is a widespread belief across communities that the root causes of discrimination, institutional racism, and cultural biases have not been addressed.
Within the provincial government, only a few African Nova Scotian public servants hold managerial positions. Provincial public service employment for all African Nova Scotians is 2.23 per cent. There are a high number of "term" positions and a tendency for African Nova Scotian public servants to move horizontally in organizational structures rather than vertically.
Only three government initiatives specifically target the needs of African Nova Scotian communities: the Black Business Initiative (BBI), the Council on African Canadian Education (CACE), and the African Canadian Services Division. African Nova Scotians are virtually absent from government-affiliated volunteer agencies, boards, and commissions.
Unemployment
African Nova Scotian males have a 10 per cent lower participation rate in the labour force. 58.4 per cent of ANS males work, compared to 68 per cent of males in general.
African Nova Scotian males and females have higher unemployment rates than the general population:
- 15.7 per cent of ANS males are unemployed compared to 13.5 per cent of males in the general population.
- 11.3 per cent of ANS females are unemployed compared to 10.4 per cent of females in the general population.
Earning Power
African Nova Scotian university graduates earn an average of $12,000 less than those in the general population.
Child Poverty
African Nova Scotian children are more likely than other children to be living in low-income households - 44 per cent for Blacks in Canada, compared to 19 per cent for the general population.
Education
A significant proportion of African Nova Scotian males have less than a grade 9 level of education compared to non racially visible men. According to 1996 figures, 15 per cent of ANS males have less than grade 9, compared to 11 per cent for males in the general population.
Public Service Participation
- The majority of African Nova Scotian workers in the provincial public service are women rather than men.
- The provincial government employs about 160 African Nova Scotians.