Combating Racism, Discrimination and Hatred Advisory Committee

Meeting #:
Date:
Time:
-
Location:
Council Chambers, Civic Centre, 2nd Floor
300 City Centre Drive, Mississauga, Ontario, L5B 3C1
and Online Video Conference
Members
  • Councillor Alvin Tedjo, Ward 2
  • Councillor Dipika Damerla, Ward 7 (Co-Chair)
  • Councillor Martin Reid, Ward 9
  • Pamela Gunn, Citizen Member (Co-Chair)
  • Abdul Qayyum Mufti, Citizen Member
  • Emi Roni, Citizen Member
  • Joann De Murrell, Citizen Member
  • Michelle Eze, Citizen Member
  • Nicole Rye, Citizen Member
  • Samuel Cooper, Citizen Member
  • Seshagiri Pingali, Citizen Member
  • Shari Stoch, Citizen Member
  • Sonia Ojha, Citizen Member
  • Tony Oseivhi, Citizen Member

Staff

Robert Trewartha, Director, Strategic Communications & Initiatives

Uzma Shakir, Strategic Leader, Diversity & Inclusion

Sacha Smith, Manager/Deputy Clerk, Secretariat and Access & Privacy

Eglantina Bacaj-Gondia, Legislative Coordinator

1.
CALL TO ORDER

 

Pamela Gunn, Co-Chair called the meeting to order at 6:31 PM.

2.
INDIGENOUS LAND STATEMENT

 

Pamela Gunn, Co-Chair recited the Indigenous Land Statement.

3.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

That the May 15, 2024 Combating Racism, Discrimination and Hatred Advisory Committee Agenda be approved. 

Approved (Councillor M. Reid)

4.
DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST

 

Nil

5.
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

 

5.1
Combating Racism, Discrimination and Hatred Advisory Committee Minutes - February 20, 2024

 

That the February 20, 2024 Combating Racism, Discrimination and Hatred Advisory Committee Minutes, be approved as presented. 

Approved (S. Cooper)

6.
PRESENTATIONS - Nil

 

7.
DEPUTATIONS

 

7.1
*Christopher Krause, Acting Inspector, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - CSWB, Peel Regional Police regarding the 2023 Hate Crime Statistics

 

Christopher Krause, Acting Inspector, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - CSWB, Peel Regional Police spoke to the 2023 Hate Crime Statistics.

Committee Members engaged in discussion, asking questions and commenting on the following:

  • Hate crimes and hate incidences
  • Universal social media hashtag
  • Conveying messaging and training to youth in schools
  • Psychological safety in reporting

C. Krause responded to inquiries and post-meeting, provided the Peel Regional Police Countering Hate Committee and Corporate Communications universal hashtag for awareness and consideration: #UnitedAgainstHate 

Robert Trewartha, Director, Strategic Communications and Initiatives spoke to the Peel Regional Police Countering Hate training for Committee Members with the intention of incorporating feedback into the broader campaign of front-line and other appropriate City staff. 

  • RECOMMENDATIONCRDHAC-0006-2024
    Moved ByEmi Roni

    That the deputation from Christopher Krause, Acting Inspector, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - CSWB, Peel Regional Police regarding the 2023 Hate Crime Statistics, be received. 

    Received

7.2
Uzma Shakir, Strategic Leader of Diversity & Inclusion regarding the Combating Racism, Discrimination and Hatred Advisory Committee Work Plan

 

Uzma Shakir, Strategic Leader of Diversity & Inclusion spoke to the Combating Racism, Discrimination and Hatred Advisory Committee Work Plan, providing an overview of the prior year work planning session, interest areas, and recommended areas of focus.

  • RECOMMENDATIONCRDHAC-0007-2024
    Moved ByNicole Rye

    That the deputation from Uzma Shakir, Strategic Leader of Diversity & Inclusion regarding the Combating Racism, Discrimination and Hatred Advisory Committee Work Plan, be received. 

    Received

8.
PUBLIC QUESTION PERIOD - 15 Minute Limit 

 

Glen Voakes, Resident asked the first question regarding item 7.1:

The report shows a 120% increase over the number of hate crimes against the Jewish community in 2022.  Do the Police know where those crimes are coming from, what is causing the increase to the Jewish community, and what is in place to drive that percentage down?

Christopher Krause, Acting Inspector, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion - CSWB, Peel Regional Police responded noting the trend was affected by the geopolitical climate and data is based on the perception from the victim and not the intention of the suspect, in addition to multiple motivating factors. 

C. Krause further spoke to the Peel Regional Police strategies regarding community safety, communication, and engagement with Jewish community leaders.

G. Voakes asked the second question regarding item 10.2, referencing the consultant retainment for the Anti Racism Anti Oppression Strategy:

With all the experience and knowledge that sits in this room, why are we going out for consultants?

Robert Trewartha, Director, Strategic Communications and Initiatives responded noting 2016 was the last time the City reviewed its EDI strategy and currently the expertise is not available internally.  Further, R. Trewartha added that external assistance is required and highlighted the importance of an independent, third-party validation.

9.
CONSENT AGENDA

 
  • RECOMMENDATIONCRDHAC-0008-2024
    Moved BySonia Ojha

    That the following items were approved on consent:

    11.1 - Corporate Report dated March 21, 2024 entitled “Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Progress Report 2023” from the City Manager and Chief Administrative Officer
    11.2 - Report dated April 1, 2024 entitled "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - 2023 Annual Hate-Motivated Crime Report" from Mark Dapat, Deputy Chief, Community Safety & Well-  Being Command, Peel Regional Police

    Approved

10.
MATTERS CONSIDERED

 

10.1
Introduction of Shari Stoch, Citizen Member (Verbal)

 

Pamela Gunn, Co-Chair welcomed new Committee member, Shari Stoch, Citizen Member and S. Stoch introduced herself.

10.2
Combating Racism, Discrimination and Hatred Advisory Committee Work Plan (2023-2026)

 

This item was discussed during item 7.2

  • RECOMMENDATIONCRDHAC-0009-2024
    Moved ByJoann De Murrell

    That the Combating Racism, Discrimination and Hatred Advisory Committee endorse the recommended work plan items in the Corporate Report titled, “Combating Racism, Discrimination and Hatred Advisory Committee Work Plan (2023-2026)” dated April 5, 2024, from Rob Trewartha, Director, Strategic Communications and Initiatives. 

    Approved

11.
INFORMATION ITEMS

 

11.1
Corporate Report dated March 21, 2024 entitled “Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Progress Report 2023” from the City Manager and Chief Administrative Officer (CONSENT)

 

(For the Committee's information, this report was considered by General Committee on April 24, 2024 and adopted by Council on May 1, 2024)

No discussion took place regarding this matter. 

  • RECOMMENDATIONCRDHAC-0010-2024
    Moved BySonia Ojha

    That the Corporate Report dated March 21, 2024 entitled “Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Progress Report 2023” from the City Manager and Chief Administrative Officer, be received.

    Received

11.2
Report dated April 1, 2024 entitled "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - 2023 Annual Hate-Motivated Crime Report" from Mark Dapat, Deputy Chief, Community Safety & Well-Being Command, Peel Regional Police (CONSENT)

 

No discussion took place regarding this matter. 

  • RECOMMENDATIONCRDHAC-0011-2024
    Moved BySonia Ojha

    That the Report dated April 1, 2024 entitled "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - 2023 Annual Hate-Motivated Crime Report" from Mark Dapat, Deputy Chief, Community Safety & Well-Being Command, Peel Regional Police, be received.

    Received

12.
OTHER BUSINESS

 

Samuel Cooper, Citizen Member spoke to the Poverty Truth Commission initiative by the Peel Poverty Action Group.

Michelle Eze, Citizen Member requested a change in the Combating Racism, Discrimination and Hatred Advisory Committee's meeting start times.  Committee Members engaged in discussion and selected 6:45PM as the new start time for Committee meetings.

  • RECOMMENDATIONCRDHAC-0012-2024
    Moved ByMichelle Eze

    That the Combating Racism, Discrimination and Hatred Advisory Committee meeting start times change from 6:30PM to 6:45PM, be approved.

    Approved

13.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING - September 11, 2024

 

14.
ADJOURNMENT

 

7:39 PM (J. De Murrell)

No Item Selected