Groups advocate for anti-racism, LGBTQ committees
St. Catharines will explore whether more committees are needed
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A St. Catharines working group will consider the creation of anti-racism and LGBTQ advisory committees after citizens told councillors Monday they are desperately needed.
The issue came up because council is in the midst of creating an advisory committee on diversity and inclusion – something the five separate delegates said doesn't go far enough.
"One committee dealing with all of these issues, even through sub-committees, cannot do the work the city needs to do on these two issues," said Saleh Waziruddin, a member of the Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association.
Waziruddin, whose parents immigrated from India and Pakistan, said he has experienced racism in the city and even had to quit a job as a taxi driver after only a few days because of racist harassment by customers.
"The city can't solve every problem, but the city should have some role to play in making it possible for people like me to try and make a living without harassment," he told council. "The city can't just sit by on the sidelines."
Waziruddin recalled St. Catharines used to have an anti-racism committee which did educational work and responded to racist incidents. The city is now behind, he said, not just compared to other cities but compared to where it was before.
"As citizens we are continually told how far St. Catharines has come, but no one ever asks for who," said Renee Martin, co-founder of the Niagara Region Anti-Racism Association. "Advancement for some does not translate into advancement for all."
Martin said Hamilton built the first anti-racism centre in Canada, Brampton raised the Pan-African flag for black history month and Toronto has multiple groups working on anti-racism.
If St. Catharines wishes to bridge the gap on the racial divide, Martin said it is imperative that racialized people in the city get their own anti-racism committee.
Vicki-Lynn Smith, who recently ran for city council in George's ward, told council her grandmother fought for black rights in St. Catharines and she's had to fight for rights all over again for her daughter and the people coming behind her.
She said dedicated anti-racism and LGBTQ advisory committees would show the city's commitment to challenging the systemic problems with rights in the city.
"Some of us here today want to be involved with our city," Smith said. "We have been called complainers, but here we are in front of you showing you we're not just complainers, we're here to put in the work and do the actions that need to be done."
Council appointed Couns. Greg Miller, Karrie Porter and Kevin Townsend Monday to a working group with Mayor Walter Sendzik and staff to develop the terms of reference for the diversity and inclusion advisory committee.
But in response to the presentations, it also directed the working group to consider the creation of separate anti-racism and LGBTQ advisory committees, as well as any other advisory committees related to diversity and inclusion that it deems appropriate.
The working group is tasked with reaching out to interested community organizations for their assistance.
Sendzik told the presenters that council doesn't take their remarks lightly.
"We understand the seriousness of the issues that you've all brought forward from your respective communities," he said.
"I think what you'll see from council is every effort will be made to continue to, not just try and play catch up as you've pointed out, but also try and get ahead of a lot of the issues that we're seeing arise in our community and that have been there for a long time."
Karena.Walter@niagaradailies.com
905-225-1628 | @karena_standard
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