Combatting Racism and Discrimination

What do these 21 Ontario and 52 other Canadian communities have in common?

• Aurora (Ontario)
• Belleville (Ontario)
• Caledon (Ontario)
• Georgina (Ontario)
• Hamilton (Ontario)
• Kingston (Ontario)
• London (Ontario)
• Markham (Ontario)
• Newmarket (Ontario)
• Oakville (Ontario)
• Oshawa (Ontario)
• Ottawa (Ontario)
• Peel (Ontario)
• Richmond Hill (Ontario)
• Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario)
• Sudbury (Ontario)
• Tecumseh (Ontario)
• Thunder Bay (Ontario)
• Toronto (Ontario)
• Vaughan (Ontario)
• Windsor (Ontario)

They are all members of the Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination (CCMARD).

What is CCMARD?

CCMARD is a network of the Canadian Commission for the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) that works to advance initiatives to:

• improve their practices to promote social inclusion;
• establish policies to eradicate all forms of racism and discrimination; and
• promote human rights and diversity

The cities follow through on the Coalition’s commitments for respecting, protecting, and promoting human rights and diversity.

And no community in Niagara, including the Region, is a member of the network.

Given that Niagara is not immune to racism and discrimination and, particularly, with the challenges we’ve seen this past term of Regional Council with respect to homophobic, transphobic, and racist remarks being made by councillors or in Council Chambers, it would be a benefit to Niagara’s citizens for all Niagara communities and the Region to be members of this network.

CCMARD even offers a toolkit for communities that are thinking of becoming members or are already members to ensure they can put an appropriate plan in place for their community.

There is no good reason why Niagara Region is not on the list of members and, in fact, there are plenty of very good reasons why we should be doing everything we can to develop and implement and plan and get on that list of members.

If I earn the privilege of representing the people of St. Catharines at Niagara Regional Council, I will work to ensure we become members of the Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination…and not just in name.

Think of it as one more way to Reset the Region.