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Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Cape Breton Regional Municipality
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Governance Policy
1. MANDATE:
The mandate for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Committee will be to provide recommendations, advice and information on matters
pertaining to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This includes matters relating to anti-racism, the
2SLGBTQIA+ community and other intersections of diversity within the Cape Breton
Regional Municipality.
2. AUTHORITY:
The CBRM Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee has been granted its legal authority
to advise the Municipality by virtue of being delegated this responsibility with Council's
approval on October 24, 2023, of this Policy. Council's authority to establish this
Committee is included in Section 26 of the Municipal GovernmentAct.
3. ROLE:
The Committee shall carry out the following roles and responsibilities ensuring they act in
the best interest of ALL residents by providing the following:
a. Provide insight, advice, and make recommendations to Council relating to:
emerging equity or diversity issues or trends arising in the Municipality;
• initiatives to combat racism, acts of prejudice or hate in the Municipality,including
recommendations for education programs, training for staff and Council, and a
public awareness campaign of kindness to all;
• proposed CBRM initiatives, services, and policies to meet changing needs of a
diverse community;
acting as the Municipal information sounding board for diversity, equity, and
inclusion information,with recommendations forwarded to the Director of Human
Resources or designate.
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CBRM Diversity,Equity, and Inclusion Committee Governance Policy
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• strategies for building connections and fostering a deeper sense of inclusion and
belonging,including hosting and/or participating in community events throughout
the Municipality;
• in concert with the Director of Human Resources or designate, consult with
provincial and federal departments and agencies such as the Nova Scotia Human
Rights Commission, Office of African Nova Scotia Affairs, Nova Scotia Office of
L'nu Affairs, Nova Scotia Accessibility Directorate, Office of Equity and Anti-
Racism Initiatives and others, as appropriate to keep apprised of available programs
and services for communities.
b. Provide recommendations on opportunities for education and awareness
programs on anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion in consultation with Director of
Human Resources or designate, and within the budget allocated.
C. Provide advice and recommendations on the development of an annual work
plan with clear actions and measurable goals and objectives that move to identify and
eliminate systemic discrimination and create an inclusive organization community.
d. The committee will provide an annual update to Council, that will provide
feedback on the successes and challenges in applying a diversity, equity and inclusion lens,
while recommending ways to support a more diverse and kind community and local
government.
4. SUBCOMMITTEES AND WORKING GROUPS:
The CBRM Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee may form subcommittees
and working groups within its membership as may be necessary to address specific issues
within its mandate. Subcommittees shall draw upon members of the Committee and the
Chairperson of the subcommittee shall be a voting member.
Subcommittees may also invite community volunteers and key agencies to participate
in specific initiatives.
5. MEMBERSHIP:
The CBRM Diversity,Equity, and Inclusion Committee shall include up to ten (10) members
of the public who are residents of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, duly appointed by
Council pursuant to Section 26 of the Municipal GovenimentActfOr a three-year term. Council
shall strive to ensure the membership reflects the diversity of the community.
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Members appointed to this Committee should possess an open and positive mindset, be
passionate about diversity and inclusion and understand the importance of such,be willing to
participate in difficult discussions, understand the importance of education to reduce
mistreatment of persons, and be comfortable talking about the importance of diversity and
inclusion.
Committee members must be CBRM residents who understand the impacts of racism and
systemic discrimination on marginalized people and meet the following general qualifications:
be familiar with overall community issues and concerns.
• have demonstrated knowledge and/or lived experiences with diversity, equity,
and inclusion.
be able to build meaningful relationships and connections within the
community.
• have a willingness to actively participate in Committee meetings and
objectives.
Any resignation shall be tendered in writing to the Chairperson. When a resignation occurs,
a replacement will be sought by CBRM through the normal recruitment process to fill the
remaining term of office.
Any member who misses three meetings in any one fiscal year shall be deemed to be no longer
a member of the Committee. A Chair and Co-Chair shall be elected at the first meeting of the
Committee by a majority vote of the members and shall continue to hold office until replaced.
6. METHOD OF APPOINTMENT:
All representatives shall be appointed by the CBRM Council following a publication of a notice
calling for members to fill these positions in accordance with Section 26 of the Municipal
GovenimentAct for a three-year term.
7. MEETINGS:
The Cape Breton Regional Municipality Diversity,Equity,and Inclusion Committee shall meet
quarterly, at minimum, or at the call of the Chairperson. Meetings may be held in person, or
remotely. Agendas should be circulated one week prior to the meeting.
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The Committee shall designate one of the meetings as an Annual Meeting. This meeting
could be used for such things as an annual report of activities or committee work over the
past year, setting goals for the upcoming year and as a time to recognize outgoing members.
The committee will be responsible to elect a Chairperson,Vice-Chairperson, and a recording
secretary.
8. Confidentiality
All meetings of CBRM Diversity,Equity, and Inclusion Committee are considered public,
except those matters deemed to be private and confidential in nature, and subject to Section
22 of the Municipal Government Act. Minutes and subsequent resolutions of such meetings
shall be recorded and publicly available upon approval by the Committee. Information and
reports of the Committee shall be subject to normal Freedom of Information and Protection
of Privacy (FOIPOP) regulations
9. Communications
All communications and messaging from CBRM Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Committee's work and activities shall follow normal CBRM Communications processes and
come solely through the CBRM Communications Department.
10. Remuneration:
Committee members are volunteers and shall serve without receiving remuneration.
11. Resource Staff:
The CBRM Director of Human Resources or designate will be the CBRM staff resource for
this committee.
12. CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMITTEE:
The Chairperson should be selected annually from within the committee by election or
acclamation. The Chairperson may serve multi-year terms with a maximum of three
consecutive years.
Committee Members are required to always act in the best interest of the community and
CBRM.
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Committee Members may seek or provide information to the Director of Human Resources
or designate.
13. QUORUM:
The Cape Breton Regional Municipality Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee quorum
requires that the majority(50%plus 1) of voting members be present.If quorum is not attained
within the first 10 minutes,the formal meeting cannot proceed,and the support staff member
is not required to remain and/or provide notes.
If members present choose to remain, they may do so for an information exchange only.
14. GENERAL RULES OF ORDER:
In all cases where procedure is in question,the Committee shall be governed by Robert's Rules
of Order.
15. Conflict of Interest:
Members should be cognizant of perceived conflicts in terms of issues which may serve to
benefit them personally. Members shall not use their status on a Committee for personal or
political gain.
16. Glossary of terms
Discrimination: The treatment or consideration based on class or category rather than
individual merit and that can be used to privilege (special treatment in favour of) as well as
disadvantage (special treatment against) a particular group or individual.
Diversity: The presence of differences in the lived experiences and perspectives of people
that may include race, ethnicity, colour, ancestry, place of origin, political belief, religion,
marital status, family status, physical ability, mental disability, sex, gender identity or
expression, sexual orientation, age, class, education, and / or socio-economic situations.
Individuals affiliate with multiple identities.
Equity: The fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all people. It involves
striving to identify and eliminate unfair biases, stereotypes, or barriers that may limit the full
participation of individuals or groups in society.
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Inclusion: An active, intentional, and continuous process to address inequities in power and
privilege and build a respectful and diverse community that ensures welcoming spaces and
opportunities for all to fully participate and flourish.
Racialization: The process where society creates differences between races as real, different
and unequal in ways that affect areas of economic, political, and social life. People can be
racialized not only based on skin colour,but also according to other perceived characteristics
such as their culture,language, customs, ancestry, country or place of origin, or religion, as in
the case of Islamophobia or antisemitism.
Approved by Council: May 17, 2011
Amended: August 15, 2017
Amended: October 24, 2023
Cape Breton Regional Municipality