A motion by Coun. Mellisa Murray to create an advisory committee on inclusivity was passed unanimously by city council Monday evening.

The city’s advisory committee on the Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism was suspended, then dissolved, in 2017 following the new advisory committee bylaw, Murray noted in her motion.

She pointed out in her motion the appointments of all the committee members have expired.

Council’s strategic priorities do include evaluating the creation of an inclusivity advisory committee, she said.

The city, says the motion, is a growing community that is becoming increasingly diverse.

The motion reads:

“BE IT RESOLVED that Administration be directed to create the framework including the budget and draft terms of reference, for the inclusivity advisory committee to include the following, but are not limited to:

• Make recommendations to council on the use of gender-neutral and non-discriminatory language in city bylaws;

• Advise council on the inclusiveness and effectiveness of existing programs and services;

• Advise council on the implementation of the Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities (CIM) toolkits and resources; and;

• Make recommendations to council on strategies and initiatives to provide an inclusive, diverse, positive and healthy environment within the City of Whitehorse and our community.

Council members expressed general support for Murray’s motion and thanked her for bringing it forward.

“Being a person of colour and being a woman, and having a place that we work and live in that does not discriminate against anything is a place to strive towards,” Murray said.

“To confirm we are part of CIM is awesome, and they do have tool kits and resources to build off of I think is encouraging for our city to work towards.”

Coun. Jocelyn Curteanu described the motion as being very timely because of the climate of increased aggression against various groups due to various events around the world right now.

“I think we need to do our part to encourage diversity and inclusivity in out community,” she said.

The city, she said, can ramp up work on the issue and promote inclusivity.

Coun. Dan Boyd, however, expressed concern about the process.

It was just two or three weeks ago that the city adopted its list of strategic priorities that included evaluating the creation of an inclusivity advisory committee, he pointed out.

Boyd suggested Murray’s motion brings council beyond evaluating the creation of a committee.

He asked if the motion could be sent back to committee for further examination to make sure it’s in line with the city’s strategic priorities.

He would support it if that could be done, he told his colleagues, though he did end up voting for the motion.

Meanwhile, council was presented with an update Monday regarding its status with the CIM – formerly the Coalition of Canadian Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination.

The coalition recently confirmed Whitehorse is in good standing and nothing is outstanding, says the administrative report provided to council.

The report notes the coalition has forwarded “toolkits” for review and consideration by its municipal members.

“It was suggested that although it remains a member of the organization, the city consider formally ‘reconfirming’ its membership with the CIM, given the relatively recent re-branding of the organization, and the positive message this would provide to the Whitehorse community,” says the report.

The administrative report notes in previous discussions members of council agreed to bring forward a recommendation to reconfirm its membership on the CIM.