Calgary City Council members could soon have to undergo perpetual anti-racism training as the city pursues an amendment to its Code of Conduct for elected officials.
On Wednesday, the city’s Integrity and Ethics Office recommended that all elected officials attend “yearly in-person training, and ongoing customized training throughout the year.” Councillors will vote during an afternoon meeting of the Executive Committee.
Calgary hopes to add a provision “to mandate anti-racism training facilitated by the Ethics Advisor. This will build awareness, knowledge skills on racial justice and anti-racist leadership.”
The provision will also impose “a duty on Members of Council to educate themselves about the impact of systemic racism and racial discrimination on Indigenous, Black and diverse Racialized Calgarians.”
By adding the new provision the city “signals that anti-racism is central to the discharge of Members’ offices.”
Additionally, a by-law amendment will change the wording around intimidation and harassment expectations. Originally a section of the code specified that councillors “must communicate” respectfully without “abuse, bullying, intimidation, harassment or discrimination” but the new proposed wording asks that members “must treat” others with respect.
“Specific conduct that may be discriminatory will continue to be addressed under s. 19, although we recommend that s. 19 is amended to replace ‘communicate’ with ‘treat’. The difference in language is subtle and is intended to clarify that the kind of conduct captured by the provision is Broad,” writes the Integrity and Ethics Office.
According to the recommendations, the training plan will include sessions on specific topics and “continuing training of a more customized nature throughout the year, whether through online modules, self-directed learning, in-person discussions or other gatherings.”
The Integrity and Ethics Office claimed that anti-racism training was also essential for the city’s environmental efforts.
“The absence of anti-racism training and mandatory learning for Council Members could indirectly impact the environment by potentially perpetuating environmental injustices and limiting diverse perspectives in sustainable decision-making, which may hinder racially equitable environmental policies and practice,” reads the recommendation.
