Region of Queens makes inclusion a priority

At the last meeting, council voted to go ahead with a Government For All framework.

The aim is create an action team made up of community members to address diversity and inclusion.

Mayor David Dagley says as welcoming as Queens County is, council recognizes there is still much work to do to ensure everyone is represented in their decisions and actions.

He says it’s important for members of the community to take the lead on this initiative.

“And it’s my firm belief that those that may be subject to discrimination or racism are the ones in the best position to raise the issues so that we understand. They can present their concerns in a manner that we can react to, and certainly improve.”

Dagley says the region is looking to recruit members of the Mi’kmaq, Black, LGBTQ2S+ communities among others to provide their perspectives on life in Queens.

“We need to improve, we need to change, we recognize that, and how that actually looks going forward is going to depend upon these community volunteers that are going to participate.”

The action team is being assembled now with the expectation they begin to ramp up their work in the next few weeks.

“They’re going to take a few months to get that under their belt and certainly have those discussions, and at that point, they would be ready for the diversity and inclusion coordinator to step in and assist them. We’re not looking at day-one to hire a coordinator before we get volunteers on the ground, so to speak in that committee.”

The region is also planning to hire a paid diversity and inclusion coordinator on a two-year term beginning this fall.

Dagley says the coordinator will work with the action team and present their recommendations to council.

“And a report be issued to council on a yearly basis at least, and more often if necessary, so that we can actually look at our policies, under their advise and see if we can amend to make them work better and be more inclusive to those that are living in Queens.”

Dagley expects the committee will hold meetings to get feedback from the public.

He says council has provided no agenda or direction to the action team as they want it to be completely independent and is looking forward to hearing the action team’s recommendations.

Reported by Ed Halverson 
E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson