The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday, Nov. 7, edition that most of Canada's major banks continue to lack transparency regarding their loan programs aimed at supporting and removing barriers for Black entrepreneurs. The Globe's Dominique Gene and Chris Hannay write that the killing of George Floyd in 2020 led to discussions among banks, the federal government and Black business organizations about increasing funding for Black entrepreneurs facing systemic barriers to capital. By 2021, banks had exited the government initiative, pledging to develop their own programs. In the three years since, five of the six largest banks have launched initiatives aimed at improving credit access for Black entrepreneurs. The Globe notes that banks have historically been reluctant to share data on loans to Black entrepreneurs. In October, only the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and Royal Bank of Canada disclosed their loan amounts and approved applicants, while other banks like Bank of Nova Scotia, Toronto-Dominion Bank, Bank of Montreal and National Bank provided little to no information. Black Entrepreneurs and Businesses of Canada Society chief executive officer and founder Jackee Kasandy says funding remains a challenge.
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