BY PAUL JUNOR
Mississauga has been declared as one of the sixth largest and fastest growing major cities according to the website:www.visitmississauga.ca. Cities within the Greater Toronto Area, such as Toronto, Brampton, Markham have all adopted an action plan to unshackle the tentacles of ant-black racism.
In the wake of the murder of George Floyd, the Mississauga City Council took a stand against anti-black racism, systemic racism and discrimination. In a news release Mayor Bonnie Crombie states, “The City recognizes that racism and in particular, anti-black racism and discrimination is a crisis that requires immediate attention. The City reaffirmed its commitment to addressing systematic racism and discrimination by supporting policies and programs that address the inequities that racialized groups, Indigenous peoples, and in particular black communities continue to experience in Mississauga, and committing to the safety and livelihood of its black residents naming anti-black racism as a persuasive threat to the safety and enjoyment of life in the city.”
In consultation with Mayor Crombie and the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee there were actions plans implemented:
- Convene a series of community lead consultations on systemic racism, anti-black racism, anti-Indigenous racism and discrimination using an intersectional lens, and identify areas for systemic change in the community
- Convene a black caucus to advise on the equity issues and priorities identified by black communities in Mississauga, and report back to Council publicly in six months
- Review the terms of reference for the Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee to ensure it is fulfilling its mandate and that it focuses on part on anti-black and anti-Indigenous racism
- Review the City and Region of Peel’s consultation and communication strategy with respect to racism and discrimination and the reform of our institutions
- Work with the Region of Peel to carry out the Region’s anti-racism public education/awareness campaigns at the city level
The City Manager and Chief Administrative Officer were tasked with five specific action steps in order to carry out these actions. Resolution 207 was passed by City Council in June 2020, which resulted in six community sessions being held with the black community. The sessions include:
- Accessing political power in Canada on May 6th
- How can black communities best use local resources for positive impact and change on May 20th
- Policing on May 27th
- Personal well-being within the black community on June 8th
- Accessing an age friendly society on June 17th
- Economic empowerment on June 29th
For Mississauga black residents, these sessions are “To generate greater insights into their lived experiences, challenges, and opportunities to create a more inclusive and accessible city and region.”
Anyone interested can visit Mississauga.ca/BCE or email BCE@mississauga.ca. Residents, communities and allies are encouraged to register for the upcoming sessions in June.
