Meet New Brunswick's First Commissioner on Systemic Racism

Dr. Manju Varma is New Brunswick's first Commissioner on Systemic Racism. Dr. Varma speaks with hosts Matthew C Martin and Dr. Timothy Christie about her historic appointment and what her job entails on an all-new episode of NBWA: New Brunswickers Want Action. 

"I was appointed New Brunswick's Commissioner on Systemic Racism in October of 2021. I am the first Commissioner on Systemic Racism in New Brunswick and, from what I understand, this job is the first of its kind in Canada as well," said Dr. Varma. 

Dr. Varma believes the creation of this job in itself is a sign that times are changing and also provides her with an opprtunity to be a true catalist for progress. "I don't the creation of this role lightly. I see it as a historic moment in our province's history," said Dr. Varma who went on to explain exactly what her job entails. "My job is to speak to organizations, individuals and groups that have been involved in systemic racism or would like to be involved in the dismantling of it," said Dr. Varma. "It is not my job to define what it is. It is not my role to tell people how they've experienced it. It is my role to collect those stories and present them to the provincial government in the form of recommendations." 

Despite the fact that a key part of her job is to provide recommendations to the provincial government on how to create a more equal and just society, Dr. Varma is not working for the province. "I need to underline that am independent. I am not an employee of the provincial government," said Dr. Varma. "And what that means is that it allows me to be critical of systems that are in place right now but also provide recommendations on how to get rid of some of those systems that perpetuate systemic racism."