Prince Edward County council took a step towards fighting racism and intolerance in the county at Tuesday’s council meeting.
Judith Burfoot of All Welcome Here, a local non-profit Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) group, made a presentation to council asking that they take a firm stance against racism and intolerance in the county.
Burfoot said that according to the 2016 census, BIPOC people make up 5% of the population of the county and she expects it will be higher with a more recent census.
She requested that council take action to combat racism and to promote diversity in the county. First, she asked that council endorse a statement that read:
“Prince Edward County is an inclusive and welcoming place for all. We are consciously anti-racist and work to dismantle, address and remedy race-based discrimination, in partnership with other forms of discrimination. Discrimination prevents our residents from equitable access and experiences and will not be tolerated.”
She also requested that council create policy regarding equity, diversity and inclusion.
“First, obviously is development of municipal policy. It is critical and I have come to understand the absolute importance of policy for a municipality in terms of guiding it and what it allows and doesn’t allow a municipality to do. Equity, diversity and inclusion policy is a critical piece of any municipality and a bit shocking that we don’t have one at the moment.”
Burfoot said that county residents need a complaint mechanism for incidents, specifically for business owners who fear identifying their businesses as BIPOC-owned.
“Part of the discussion in our BIPOC group was about a number of members being afraid to identify themselves publicly as BIPOC-owned fearing that – that’s what I mean by outing themselves as BIPOC businesses – fearing that they would be victims of harassment.”
Lastly she asked that there be training for council and staff and that they work to remove the socio-economic barriers that may stop people from running for council.
After the presentation, Councillor Kate MacNaughton asked that they receive the deputation but suggested an amendment that would see council go forward on the requests.
” … that council direct staff to prepare a report regarding meaningful steps that the corporation of the County of Prince Edward can undertake to create policies and procedures that promote and embody anti-racism and pro-diversity education and action throughout the County of Prince Edward.”
Council voted on and passed the motion.
