The City of Brampton has declared its support for Collingwood’s campaign to lobby for changes to Canada’s hate speech laws to include hateful symbols.
Yesterday (March 3), Brampton city council voted unanimously in support of a motion passed by Collingwood council in February asking the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) to get involved in the issue.
Brampton councillor Rowena Santos, who brought the motion of support forward to her fellow councillors, learned of Collingwood’s efforts through Collingwood Councillor Tina Comi.
“Councillor Comi told me about the motion and asked me to support this as a board member at FCM,” said Santos, who was elected to the FCM board in October. “I thought .. what better way to show our support to Collingwood than to have Brampton, one of the most diverse cities in the country, showing our solidarity with Collingwood who is struggling with this issue right now.”
Collingwood council was petitioned last year to ban the Confederate flag. Local citizens used the example of a Ninth Street home where the flag flies from the front porch as an example.
The town cannot, however, require the homeowner to remove the flag, which flies on private property.
Santos agreed the responsibility was on the federal government to update hate speech laws, and symbols should be included to make the laws consistent.
For example, she said, the Prime Minister recently added the Proud Boys and three other extreme right-wing groups to its list of terrorist organizations.
She also noted the flag was marched through the U.S. capitol buildings during the Jan. 6 riots.
“What identifies the Proud Boys are these symbols,” said Santos. “The federal government needs to be consistent in what it defines as hate … and we need to have the ability to enforce whatever propaganda or messages they are spreading in our community that would offend or hurt members of our community.”
The homeowner flying the Confederate Flag on Ninth Street said he is not racist, but flies the flag because of his interest in Civil War reenactment. He considers it a symbol of freedom.
“What is considered freedom for that person is considered slavery for an entire community,” said Santos. “Maybe you’re not part of Proud Boys and maybe you are flying that flag for whatever reason … but there has to be some level of cultural sensitivity and respect for the hurt that symbolizes for an entire community and for its representation of slavery.”
Santos said she doesn’t see the same issues in Brampton, which she attributes to the city’s diversity.
“I won’t say it’s not an issue … we still have to deal with it at times,” she said. “Certainly we stand in solidarity with the efforts of the communities across the country who are tackling systemic racism, anti-Black racism, and hate speech.”
Collingwood Councillor Kathy Jeffery is also on the FCM board and will be prepared to speak to the board when Collingwood’s request comes up for discussion. Santos said she looks forward to supporting Jeffery and is glad to bring Brampton council’s support with her.
The full motion passed by Brampton City Council on March 3 is as follows:
Moved by Councillor Santos
Seconded by All Members of Council
Whereas the City of Brampton is a mosaic that celebrates and supports diversity and condemns all forms of hate, racism and discrimination;
Whereas on November 27, 2019, the City of Brampton created a new five-year Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Work Plan that sets out opportunities to foster a more inclusive organizational culture that engages, develops and celebrates its people;
Whereas in December 2020, City Council identified the creation of an Equity Office as a Term of Council Priority to accelerate the implementation of the City’s Diversity & Inclusion Workplan with dedicated support of all of its labour partners from the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 831; Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1573; and Brampton Professional Fire Fighters Association, Local 1068.
Whereas in 2020, the City of Brampton implemented the Black African and Caribbean Social, Cultural and Economic Empowerment and Anti-Black Racism Unit, as well as the Indigenous Reconciliation project;
Whereas it is widely recognized that symbols can have a powerful and profound effect on the psychology and well-being of community members but Federal hate speech laws have not been updated accordingly;
Whereas the City of Brampton as a member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) stands in solidarity with other communities like Collingwood, in condemning all forms of hate, racism and discrimination;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Brampton, as a member of FCM, support Collingwood’s motion for FCM to advocate to the Federal Government in the development of legislation that would clarify and strengthen the definition of hate speech, including explicit recognition of the psychological harm that can be caused by hateful symbols, and work with all levels of government in addressing the root causes of hate speech;
And that this motion be forward to FCM for consideration at their upcoming Board Meeting.
