Delegates voted for a constitutional change that means the OFL will no longer use the term, ‘visible minority’, and will instead refer to ‘workers of colour’.

The OFL executive board recommended the change. The United Nations said in 2007 that Canada’s use of the term, ‘visible minorities’ may be discriminatory.

The OFL’s 2007 convention decided to review and change the term. It formed an affiliate and community working group, which filed its report to the OFL executive board at the beginning of this year.

Constitution resolution C – 1

Submitted by the OFL Executive Board

Because the United Nations in 2007 stated that Canada’s use of the term “visible minorities” may be considered suceptible to racial discrimination when identifying certain racial groups;

Because a 2007 OFL convention resolution was passed to review and change the term “visible minority” by forming a designated affiliate and community working group to review new terminology;

Because of the report from the working group and the OFL Visible Minority Committee to the OFL Executive Board on January 26, 2009;

The OFL Executive Board recommends that the OFL Convention amend the Constitution by deleting the term “visible minority” and replacing it with “workers of colour”.

Constitution, equity, Human rights, racialized, visible minority, workers of colour