Montréal Consultation on Systemic Racism and Discrimination: Report Released

MONTRÉAL, June 15, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - The Office de consultation publique de Montréal (OCPM) makes public today the report on the public consultation on systemic racism and discrimination within Montréal jurisdiction. The full 252-page version of the report as well as a summary in French and English are available on the site of the consultation at ocpm.qc.ca/r&ds.

More than 22,000 Montrealers had signed the petition calling for the consultation to be held, pursuant to the right of initiative provided for under the Montréal Charter of Rights and Responsibilities. The OCPM describes in its report the extraordinary mobilization generated by the mandate. Over 7000 in-person and online participations were recorded over the various stages of the consultations, one of the longest and most exhaustive processes led by the paramunicipal organization in its 18 years of existence. The consultation was held throughout Montréal territory using a variety of means to allow citizens to express their views. The Office recorded more than 1000 people and organizations who contributed to some 34 citizen contributory activities and the formal hearing-of-opinions phase. In addition to the report, the consultation leaves us with a wealth of documentation, including personal accounts, data, research, suggestions and references to experiences in Montréal and other areas.

In keeping with the expressed wishes of the communities of citizens that initiated the process, the OCPM attempted, based on the information it received, to highlight the extent of the problem, identify groups that may potentially be victims of systemic racism and discrimination, and pinpoint future avenues and concrete initiatives to be introduced into Montréal's policies and programs, in line with its responsibilities, in order to bring about real change. From the outset, the commission noted that, despite generous discourse in terms of the principles and numerous actions undertaken by the City, results were not forthcoming.

"The analysis of the documentation provided and accounts heard lead the commission to conclude that the lack of formal recognition of the systemic nature of the racism and discrimination victimizing racialized groups and indigenous peoples prevents the City from equipping itself with the necessary tools to really tackle the problem," says OCPM president Dominique Ollivier.

In its report made public this morning, the commission outlines 11 findings and 38 recommendations to guide the decisions of the municipal administration. Firstly, major cross-cutting recommendations, whose starting point is the acknowledgement that the phenomenon exists, target the implementation of operational changes that are consistent with the diagnosis. Secondly, thematic recommendations tackle specific problems, such as representation within the City's workforce and executive, racial and social profiling, culture and social iniquities.

"The commission believes that the City should take advantage of this consultation to quickly define clear goals that will lead to the expected changes. It needs to develop tools to assess discrepancies, objectives and performance indicators to track the progress of its plans and policies, and to assume an obligation to render accounts to the population on a periodic basis to develop a culture of transparency and inspire successes. It should become exemplary in its practices and its own management in order to serve as a model for its partners, its suppliers, and civil society," adds Ms. Ollivier.

In addition to the full report, the Office has produced a summary, available in French and English, which its president, Ms. Dominique Ollivier, will present in a webcast at 10:00 a.m. today, to allow all those who participated in the consultation or who are concerned by the issues of systemic racism and discrimination to have access to the conclusions, despite the current pandemic that is making many of the usual dissemination outlets and networks inaccessible.

All information about this consultation, including documents published today, is available on the Office Web site at ocpm.qc.ca/r&ds.

The OCPM is an independent organization that carries out public consultation mandates entrusted to it by the Montréal City Council or Executive Committee. The consultations are used to gather citizens' opinions, primarily regarding urban and land-use planning projects under municipal jurisdiction, but they may also extend to any and all projects submitted by the Executive Committee or City Council. The OCPM was created especially so that some public consultations would be conducted by a neutral body. The consultation reports of the OCPM always include an analysis of citizens' concerns as well as specific recommendations to guide public decisions. The Office also has the mandate to recommend regulations to ensure the implementation of credible, transparent and effective consultation mechanisms in Montréal.

SOURCE Office de consultation publique de Montréal

Anik Pouliot, Cell: 514 743-9369, [email protected]