THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF PEEL

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND ANTI-RACISM COMMITTEE

MINUTES

DEAR-2/2021

Thursday, June 17, 2021

1:30 P.m. - 3:00 P.m.

Council Chamber, 5th Floor

Regional Administrative Headquarters

10 Peel Centre Drive, Suite A

Brampton, Ontario

Members Present:

• R. Deo
• G.S. Dhillon
• J. Downey
• N. Iannicca
• J. Kovac
• S. McFadden
• R. Rokerya
• R. Santos

Members Absent:

• T. Awuni
• D. Damerla

Staff Present:

• J. Baker, Chief Administrative Officer
• S. Baird, Commissioner of Service Excellence and Innovation
• G. Kent, Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Corporate Services
• P. O'Connor, Regional Solicitor
• K. Dedman, Commissioner of Public Works
• J. Sheehy, Commissioner of Human Services
• N. Polsinelli, Commissioner of Health Services
• K. Lockyer, Regional Clerk and Director of Clerk's
• J. Jackson, Director, Office of Culture and Inclusion
• A. Adams, Deputy Clerk and Manager of Access to Information and Privacy
• C. Thomson, Deputy Clerk and Manager of Legislative Services
• H. Gill, Committee Clerk
• S. Valleau, Legislative Specialist
• R. Khan, Legislative Technical Coordinator
• D. Rai, Legislative Assistant

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

Harjit Gill, Committee Clerk, called the Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism Committee meeting to order on June 17, 2021 at 1:00 p.m., in the Council Chambers, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Drive. Members of the Committee and staff participated electronically.

Committee Member Awuni was absent due to illness.

Councillor Damerla was absent due to illness.

Other Councillors present: R. Starr and A. Thompson.

Councillor Downey departed at 2:01 p.m.

Councillor Santos assumed the Chair at 2:01 p.m.

Councillor Dhillon arrived at 2:04 p.m.

2.

ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR

• RECOMMENDATION DEAR-5-2021:

  That Councillor Downey be elected Chair of the Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism Committee for the remainder of the Council term or until a successor is appointed.
• RECOMMENDATION DEAR-6-2021:

  That Councillor Santos be elected Vice-Chair of the Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism Committee for the remainder of the Council term or until a successor is appointed.

Councillor Downey assumed the Chair.

3.

DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Nil.

4.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

• RECOMMENDATION DEAR-7-2021:

  That the agenda for the June 17, 2021 Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism Committee meeting include a communication from Catherine Soplet regarding community participation at roundtables of the Peel Poverty Reduction Strategy, to be dealt with under Communications – item 7.2;

  And further, that the agenda for the June 17, 2021 Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism Committee meeting be approved, as amended.

5.

DELEGATIONS

Nil.

6.

REPORTS

6.1

Update on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the Region of Peel

(For information)
Presentation by Baldev Mutta, Chief Executive Officer, Punjabi Community Health Services; and Juliet Jackson, Director, Office of Culture and Inclusion

• Received
• RECOMMENDATION DEAR-8-2021:

  That staff be directed to continue the work related to addressing discrimination and stigmatization of the unvaccinated population;

  And further, that staff provide updates to the Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism Committee as applicable.

Baldev Mutta, Chief Executive Officer, Punjabi Community Health Services; and Juliet Jackson, Director, Office of Culture and Inclusion provided an overview of the Community Equity and Engagement Advisory Table’s (CEEA) support of the Region of Peel’s Mass Vaccination Plan. The presentation highlighted the CEEA’s role in providing advice, direction and guidance on the application of provincial ethical frameworks and equity considerations; supporting decision-making to reach priority populations; opportunities for collaboration among community partners; and, identifying barriers to vaccination uptake and confidence in the community.

Members of Committee and other Regional Councillors discussed strategies to reduce vaccine hesitancy, including targeted community vaccination clinics. Questions were raised regarding: reasons for targeted community vaccination clinics and the stigma they create; communication of the success of targeted clinics as it relates to vaccination hesitancy and confidence; the need to educate the community about why targeted vaccination strategies are important; discrimination and stigmatization of the unvaccinated population; and, the need for continued vaccine education to help alleviate vaccine hesitancy. Concern was also expressed about decisions being contemplated related to vaccine passports.

Janice Baker, Chief Administrative Officer, stated that staff are actively monitoring and reviewing the evolving nature of the conversation and challenges related to discrimination and stigmatization of the unvaccinated population. She noted that the issue is complicated as it is multi-jurisdictional. Staff will continue to provide the Committee with updates and seek advice on specific areas.

7.

COMMUNICATIONS

7.1

Government of Canada, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

Statement on the Discovery Around Kamloops Indian Residential School (Receipt recommended)

• Received

7.2

Catherine Soplet, Founder, Building Up Our Neighbourhoods

Letter dated June 17, 2021, Regarding Community Participation at Roundtables of the Peel Poverty Reduction Strategy (Referral to Corporate Services recommended)

• Received

8.

OTHER BUSINESS

Nil.

9.

IN CAMERA MATTERS

Nil.

10.

NEXT MEETING

Thursday, September 16, 2021
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Council Chamber, 5th Floor
Regional Administrative Headquarters
10 Peel Centre Drive, Suite A
Brampton, Ontario

Please forward regrets to Harjit Gill, Committee Clerk, at [email protected].

11.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 2:18 p.m.