Town council discussing potential new policy to address racism in public facilities
By John Watson Local Journalism initiative Reporter
Strathmore town council is considering the implementation of a policy against racism in town operated facilities, as it is a rising concern.
Mayor Pat Fule said it seems like a small minority of people who actively use town facilities are engaging in racist behaviour, or making such comments, and it is not something he wishes to tolerate.
“We want to make sure that people are being treated equally and fairly and that there are no really strong or negative comments made to anybody – that everybody feels safe in these facilities,” said Fule.
“We want to just make sure that it’s stopped when it happens and that there are some repercussions if people are saying things or acting in very negative ways to others.”
Staff have been directed to begin developing the policy, rather than a bylaw, that will go before council to address anything that could happen, that would be racist in nature, at municipal buildings such as any recreation facility.
Though he does not yet know what form that policy will take, Fule said as always, it will have to receive approval from council before coming into effect.
“I don’t know exactly what the repercussions would be, but … perhaps someone would be removed and if it was strong enough or recurring, perhaps the policy will say that person is not allowed back in the facility for the duration of the season,” he said. “We want to try to show the public that we have something in place with some teeth in it so that there will be repercussions if these kinds of acts or comments are made to people.”
The inclination to develop a policy instead of a bylaw stems from not wanting to introduce redundancies or extra red tape into the legalities of dealing with racist comments and actions.
Fule said provincial and federal law for human rights that already addresses racism to some degree, which removes the necessity to consider introducing a municipal bylaw.
“The hope is that the policy would be strong enough that once word gets out and people become aware of it, that they’ll carry themselves in a certain way inside recreation facilities. I think if people are aware that we have a strong policy to deal with any kind of racist acts or comments made to others, that they won’t continue to do them.”
Fule added that in Strathmore, Siksika Nation residents in particular have been experiencing acts of racism, though he did not specify the extent of any comments or complaints that have been made on the topic.
He said in discussions with Siksika Nation and Siksika Nation Tribal Council, incidents that have happened to nation residents while in Strathmore have been documented and the consensus is to work to make sure everyone is protected – not just First Nations, but any minority that happens to be in the area.