Calgary Councillors Approve Bylaw to Strengthen Anti-Racism Committee

Calgary’s city councillors have taken a significant step towards enhancing the structure of the city’s Anti-Racism Action Committee by endorsing a new bylaw. During a meeting of the Community Development Committee on October 20, 2023, members voted 10-1 in favor of converting the committee’s terms of reference into a formal bylaw. This move aims to align the anti-racism group with other council-appointed bodies, with the bylaw now pending final ratification by the full city council.

The establishment of the anti-racism committee traces back to 2020 in response to the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, an event that ignited the global Black Lives Matter movement. Following local demonstrations in Calgary, the city council held a three-day public hearing where over 150 residents expressed their experiences regarding systemic racism. In light of these discussions, the council appointed 11 public volunteers to the committee, tasked with identifying systemic barriers within city programs and services, collaborating with community partners, and advising on the development of a new anti-racism strategy, which received council approval in May 2023.

According to a city staff report, the proposed bylaw will define the committee’s mandate, composition, responsibilities, and operational guidelines. This adjustment aligns the committee with Section 145 of the Municipal Government Act, which mandates that council committees must be established by a formal bylaw.

During the recent committee meeting, Jaspreet Sandhu, the city’s manager of community integration strategies, emphasized that the changes were developed in consultation with the Anti-Racism Action Committee. She noted that the adjustments would primarily involve minor updates, including term lengths for members, frequency of reporting to the council, committee membership composition, and meeting allowances.

The committee has continued to play a vital role in advising the council on anti-racism initiatives and ensuring that grassroots voices are included in decision-making processes. As the bylaw moves forward for ratification, it is expected to bolster the committee’s effectiveness in addressing and combating systemic racism in Calgary.

With this new framework, the city aims to enhance its commitment to anti-racism efforts and ensure a more inclusive approach to governance, reflecting the diverse perspectives of its residents.