10/22/2024
At yesterday’s meeting, Council passed the following resolution. Let’s all continue to ensure love and justice trump hate and discrimination in our community.
Whereas municipal governments in Canada, along with other levels of government, have responsibilities under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as federal, provincial and territorial human rights codes, and therefore have an important role to play in addressing racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, and other forms of discrimination.
And whereas the Town of Goderich is committed to the goal of fostering a welcoming and caring community by strengthening a sense of belonging among every citizen who makes Goderich home, as outlined in the 2024-2027 Strategic Action Plan and evidenced in our equity diversity and inclusion Human Resources Policy No. 03-2022 (Nov 2024);
And whereas the Town of Goderich rejects racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, and discrimination related intolerance in all forms;
Be it therefore resolved that the Town of Goderich hereby:
Reaffirms its commitment to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion through its by-laws and policies, and strongly supports the vigorous enforcement of the hate propaganda and hate and bias motivated crime provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada in the interests of public safety and the well-being of all its citizens;
Commits to working together with other organizations and jurisdictions including other levels of government, Indigenous peoples, public and private sector institutions, and civic society organizations, to foster equality, an appreciation of cultural diversity, and respect;
Takes specific actions and implements programs to cultivate a sense of belonging for all citizens, including initiatives such as the painting of the Pride crosswalk, providing support for public organizations through the Community Grants program, creating Welcome packages for new residents, enhancing accessibility throughout the Town, and organizing public awareness campaigns on key social issues through the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan; and
Regularly assesses and reassesses our policies, procedures and actions to ensure they continue to foster and promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in our community.
