An Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity Strategy with an Anti-Oppression Framework report left Port Hope council members wanting more at Tuesday night’s meeting.
Especially considering council directed staff to develop an EDI policy nearly three years ago.
CAO Mike Melinyshyn acknowledged the project languished since council’s directive in June of 2023.
The report states the implementation of the EDI Strategy (https://pub-porthope.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=16927) is proposed to occur over an initial timeline of two to four years, with regular reporting to council on progress.
“I’m very happy to say when I saw this I was really impressed and pushed forward to get this over the plate,” Melinyshyn said of the strategy and framework. “The senior leadership team has reviewed it extensively. It is a comprehensive document, it is a long document, but it covers I think most of those key inputs for an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion policy. It is a framework to help…move us forward in mind with the strategic plan.”
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Councillor Todd Attridge said he had some prepared comments to share.
“I want to begin by acknowledging the work that has gone into the EDI strategy and framework and the accompanying staff report. This is a serious, well-researched document and it reflects a thoughtful effort to ground EDI work in municipal realities. I also appreciate the transparency if the staff report about staffing and leadership changes that contributed to the delay,” Attridge said. “At the same time, council has a responsibility to be clear about what we asked for and where we are now. In June of 2023 council directed staff to prepare and bring back forward an equity and diversity and inclusivity policy with an anti-oppression framework and to do so prior to the end of 2023. What is before us today is not that policy. It is a strategy and framework intended to guide work over the next two to four years in the absence of a formal policy. The strategy does not explain how it leads to a formal EDI policy or when council should expect to see one.
“The staff report similarly does not propose a timeline for completing the EDI policy that council originally directed and instead contemplates another future follow-up strategy,” Attridge continued.
“These gaps matter, especially given where we are in this council’s term. We are in the final year of our mandate and in short order this council will no longer be in a position to meaningfully oversee new policy development. If we approve this strategy without clear direction and timelines, we risk transferring an unresolved obligation to the next council, effectively resetting accountability and commitment for establishing an EDI policy for the municipality. I want to be clear that this is not a rejection of the work that has been done. The strategy is useful and should inform future decisions related to the EDI policy, but it should not be treated as a substitute for the policy that council explicitly requested and remains outstanding. The responsible path forward is to approve this strategy as interim guidance and at the same direct staff to bring forward the formal EDI policy within this council’s remaining term of effectiveness. This approach respects the work completed to date and allows us to close the loop on our own decision rather than leaving it unfinished.”
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Mayor Olena Hankivsky wondered if there was an explanation for why there was such a delay in 2023, recognizing Melinyshyn is still new to his CAO role.
Melinyshyn said he couldn’t speak to the former CAO or department responsible at the time, before responding to Attridge’s statement.
“When we worked with the consultant on this, I think the entire SLT (senior leadership team) realized that this wasn’t a policy. This was much more of a framework, a direction and approach and we refined this framework, wanted to bring it to council to make sure that we’re on the right path so then we can now inform the policy.”
Councillor Claire Holloway Wadhwani said the language was deliberate in the original notice of motion that she seconded back in 2023 and noted she appreciated it was printed in the staff report and strategy document.
“When we said that we wanted something that ensured that municipal policies, procedures, bylaws, practices are designed to be inclusive and what we have in this strategy is a recommendation that a plan be developed for how we do that,” she said.
“To me, it’s not just that it’s not in policy language, it does not actually fulfill the intent which is we want that happening now, we don’t want that happening in this vague two to four years from now as we work through these next steps. The same thing, providing regular training to municipal employees – I don’t want to see a plan for how that’s going to happen, I want to see that that is happening now.”
Holloway Wadhwani raised concern that the policy was being pushed into the future despite it being established as a priority early in the council term.
Councillor Les Andrews said he disagreed.
“I don’t think you can mandate a policy that should really be placed by following common sense, fairness and the principles of treating everyone with respect,” he said. “The attitude should be predicated on not that you shall do these things, but you should do these things and I think you could wrap that up in a policy.”
Councillor Vicki Mink wondered about past council decisions that were deferred until the EDI policy was completed and if those are being tracked.
Meliyshyn said the staff report references those decisions that were meant to be evaluated in line with the EDI policy, which he now anticipated to come into effect sooner based on the council discussion.
Attridge put forward a motion that staff report back to council with a proposed EDI policy no later than three months from now.
Hankivsky suggested the policy should be in place in less than three months and considered making an amendment.
“I’m cranky on this one, very cranky. I feel like this is one of the things that we were really passionate about at the council table in many ways and it should’ve been brought forward,” the mayor said. “I realize it’s a little bit of a hangover from previous leadership and many different levels, but I’d like to turn it back to the CAO and ask what’s the most aggressive timeline you can be using to get back to us on this. I think three months is too long.”
Melinyshyn said he didn’t disagree and anticipated bringing it forward to a meeting in March.
“This is a trust me moment,” Hankivsky said. “I’m happy to keep it as it is, but this is not going to be one that we let slide any further. It’s a priority and certainly I’m going to be looking for it in March.”
The motion passed.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
