Whereas the Town of Goderich offers no safe harbour for hate;
And Whereas the Town of Goderich strives for a world in which all people are free to pursue joyous lives without fear of harassment, cruelty, or violence;
And Whereas the Town of Goderich celebrates and cherishes diversity, inclusion, compassion, and courage;
And Whereas the Town of Goderich is committed to the goal of fostering a welcoming and caring community by strengthening a sense of belonging among everyone who makes Goderich home, as outlined in the 2024-2027 Strategic Action Plan;
And Whereas the Town of Goderich has taken specific actions and implemented programs to cultivate a sense of belonging for all residents, including the painting of the Pride crosswalk, providing support for public organizations through the Community Grants program, creating Welcome packages for new residents, enhancing accessibility throughout the Town, and organizing public awareness campaigns on key social issues through the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan;
And Whereas in irreconcilable contrast, Nazi and neo-Nazi ideologies seek the commission of harassment, cruelty, and violence against people based on age, ancestry, colour, race, citizenship, ethnic origin, place of origin, creed, disability, family status, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation;
Therefore, be it resolved that the Town of Goderich unequivocally denounces Nazi and neo-Nazi ideologies in all their original and modern forms.
Deputy Mayor Noel requests an amendment to the motion and the mover and seconder agree with the changes to the motion as follows:
WHEREAS municipal governments in Canada, along with other levels of government, have responsibilities under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as federal, provincial, and territorial human rights codes, and therefore have an important role to play in addressing racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, and other forms of discrimination.
AND WHEREAS the Town of Goderich is committed to the goal of fostering a welcoming and caring community by strengthening a sense of belonging among every citizen who makes Goderich home, as outlined in the 2024-2027 Strategic Action Plan, and evidenced in our equity diversity and inclusion Human Resources Policy No. 03-2022 (Nov 2024);
AND WHEREAS the Town of Goderich rejects racism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, and discrimination related intolerance in all forms;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Town of Goderich hereby:
- Reaffirms its commitment to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion through its by-laws and policies, and strongly supports the vigorous enforcement of the hate propaganda and hate and bias motivated crime provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada in the interests of public safety and the well-being of all its citizens;
- Commits to working together with other organizations and jurisdictions including other levels of government, Indigenous peoples, public and private sector institutions, and civic society organizations, to foster equality, an appreciation of cultural diversity, and respect;
- Takes specific actions and implements programs to cultivate a sense of belonging for all citizens, including initiatives such as the painting of the Pride crosswalk, providing support for public organizations through the Community Grants program, creating Welcome packages for new residents, enhancing accessibility throughout the Town, and organizing public awareness campaigns on key social issues through the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan; and
- Regularly assesses and reassesses our policies, procedures, and actions to ensure they continue to foster and promote equity, diversity, and inclusion in our community.