Durham Regional Council endorses development of an Anti-Racism Task Force

Whitby, Ontario – On May 26, Durham Regional Council approved the terms of reference for the Durham Region Anti-Racism Task Force (DRART).

The recommendation for the DRART comes as part of the Region’s commitment to develop and implement an Anti-Racism Framework to ensure a healthy workplace and to address racism within the communities the Region serves.

The establishment of an Anti-Racism Task Force as a Committee of Council, with formalized structure similar to other advisory committees, will ensure a consistent approach to addressing systemic racism. This committee will adopt a ‘hub and spoke’ model where working groups will be identified to address disparity in racialized (e.g., Indigenous, Black, Asian) communities. Anti-Black racism will be the initial focus for this task force. Precedence will be given to the lived and living experiences and concerns of all racialized groups in the Region.

The mandate of the DRART is to act as an advisory role to Regional Council through the Finance and Administration Committee on issues related to racism – structural, systemic and interpersonal. DRART will be a volunteer Advisory Committee established by Regional Council in accordance with the Terms of Reference which will be used to guide the Committee.

Regional Council has appointed Councillor Sterling Lee as the Council representative for the DRART, with Councillor Granville Anderson as the alternate. In accordance with the terms of reference for DRART, Regional Council also appointed Regional CAO Elaine Baxter-Trahair with Don Beaton, the Commissioner of Corporate Services, as the alternate.

As part of the next steps, the Region will be proceeding with recruiting and appointing members to the DRART.

To learn more about the Region’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work, visit durham.ca/DEI.

Quotes

“Regional Council is proud to support the formation of the Durham Region Anti-Racism Task Force. As part of our larger Anti-Racism Framework, this task force will contribute to address racism in all its forms. We look forward to collaborating with the community and fostering a more inclusive and equitable Region for everyone.”

-        John Henry, Regional Chair

“The task force will be made up of 15 to 18 people representing the diverse community within Durham. With a formalized and consistent structure, the task force will be able to address disparities in our community while prioritizing the voices of those with lived and living experiences, and concerns of all racialized groups in the Region.”

-        Allison Hector-Alexander, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

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