Brampton City Council approves new Equity Office to launch in 2021
The Voice of Canada News:
BRAMPTON, ON – The City of Brampton is advancing the Term of Council Priority: Brampton is Mosaic, by laying the foundations of an Equity Office to serve its employees and citizens. On December 9, City Council approved this new initiative that will accelerate the implementation of the City’s Diversity & Inclusion Workplan. The City is pleased to have the dedicated support of all of its labour partners from the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 831; Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1573; and Brampton Professional Fire Fighters Association, Local 1068.
The Equity Office at the City of Brampton will focus on identifying and removing barriers in the workplace and community regardless of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, disability, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, same-sex partnership, age, marital status, family status, immigrant status, receipt of public assistance, political affiliation, religious affiliation, level of literacy, language and/or socio-economic status.
Among other important initiatives, it will also host the Black African and Caribbean Social, Cultural and Economic Empowerment and Anti-Black Racism Unit, which was set up this year, as well as the Indigenous Reconciliation project.
The Equity Office will work to ensure fair and equitable treatment of all individuals and promote a harmonious environment both inside the City and for its residents.
In November 2019, the City of Brampton launched a new five-year Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Work Plan. It sets out opportunities to foster a more inclusive organizational culture that engages, develops and celebrates its people, and attracts a diverse workforce.
In 2019, City Council participated in a workshop led by the Canadian Centre for Diversity & Inclusion (CCDI), who provided insight on the survey of the City’s employees they conducted from January to March 2019. The CCDI analysis also included evidence from focus groups, leadership assessments, and organizational maturity analysis.
The strategy has four priorities:
- Grow a diverse workforce reflective of the community the City of Brampton serves
- Foster a more inclusive environment where individuals say, stay, and strive
- Develop awareness and ability of all employees for diversity and inclusion to thrive
- Celebrate our uniqueness and shared successes by upholding the City’s values of trust, integrity, courage and compassion
In June 2020, City Council launched the City’s first-ever Black African and Caribbean Social, Cultural and Economic Empowerment and Anti-Black Racism Unit to take meaningful action against anti-Black racism.
Guided by Brampton’s diverse Black African and Caribbean diaspora, this unit will establish priorities and an action plan that eradicates systemic anti-Black racism in Brampton and uplifts the social, cultural, and economic position of the black community.
In November 2020, the City became the newest Corporate Member of five non-profit Supplier Certification Organizations: Buy Social Canada; the Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council; the Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce; the Inclusive Workplace Supply Council of Canada and WBE Canada, Certified Women Business Enterprises, in order to create equitable access for small and medium businesses, including but not limited to, women, Indigenous people, visible minorities, veterans, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S-owned organizations and social purpose enterprises, to bid on City procurement projects and do more business in Brampton.
The City will release further details on the launch of the Equity Office in early 2021.
Quotes
“Brampton is a Mosaic, and we are dedicated to continuing to embed diversity, equity and inclusion into all of our programs, services and initiatives at the City. The new Equity Office will work to identify and remove barriers at the City and within our diverse community, and help ensure that all of our residents are treated fairly and equitably.”- Patrick Brown, Mayor, City of Brampton
“The City of Brampton is continuing to take steps towards building a more equitable and inclusive city without barriers for our diverse community. The Equity Office will help us ensure fair and equitable treatment of all individuals, and a harmonious environment for City staff and all Bramptonians.”– Harkirat Singh, City Councillor Wards 9&10, Chair, Corporate Services, City of Brampton
“Throughout 2020, the City has continued to work towards removing barriers for staff and residents, launching the Black African and Caribbean Social, Cultural and Economic Empowerment and Anti-Black Racism Unit, and creating more opportunities in Brampton for certified diverse businesses. The new Equity Office is another significant step that will help us ensure everyone in our city is treated fairly and equitably.” – Rowena Santos, Regional Councillor Wards 1&5, Vice-Chair, Corporate Services, City of Brampton
“Brampton is an incredibly diverse community, and staff are dedicated to continuing to advance the Term of Council Priority: Brampton is a Mosaic. The new Equity Office is an important next step in our City’s ongoing work to foster an inclusive culture that engages, develops and celebrates our people, and attract a diverse workforce. I’m grateful for the support of the City’s labour partners in collaborating towards this important goal.”- David Barrick, Chief Administrative Officer, City of Brampton
“The Equity Office will work to ensure the City of Brampton’s organizational culture is inclusive for all our members. We support the City launching it, and look forward to the environment it will promote for staff and residents.”- Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 831
“Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1573 believes in the fair and equitable treatment of all its members. We are proud to support the City as it launches the Equity Office and it continues its work building a more inclusive workplace.- Frank Vani, President, Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1573
“The City’s new Equity Office will identify and remove barriers in the workplace and create a harmonious environment for all. Brampton Professional Fire Fighters, International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 1068, support the City in its launch.”- Paul Lecompte, President, Brampton Professional Fire Fighters, International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 1068
