Presented by: Joanna Matthews, Executive Director April 27, 2007 Prepared by: Laila Eiriksson Board of Directors 1
Halton Multicultural Council The Halton Multicultural Council (HMC) is a non-profit community agency dedicated to enabling every individual, regardless of racial/ethnic origin, to participate as full and active member of this community. HMC is the only settlement service provider in Halton Region and in 2006 provided an estimated 17,039 settlement services to newcomers. 2
HMC Programs Include: • Settlement Services • Bridge Training Program • Employment Services • Anti-discrimination/ Cross Cultural Awareness Programs • Language Training • Organizational Diversity • Transitional Housing Competency Training • Volunteer Programming • Professional Interpretation / Translation Services •Awareness Raising Events • Also provide Advisory Services for community agencies and participate on committees of the regional government 3
The Issue To increase the diversity competency within Regional Government so that its policies and programs promote greater inclusion of the Region’s diverse population. 4
Why Now? • New Term for Regional Government • Helps eliminate/discourage attitude/mentality of ‘us and them’ • Sets standard for diversity competency and inclusion as a best practice • Secure and retain human resources present within newcomer population in response to current and projected labour force shortages across all sectors 5
Statistics Canada Projections By 2017: • One in five people in Canada member of a visible minority • 6.3 - 8.5 million visible minorities in Canada • Visible minority population continues increasing at faster pace than rest of population • Populations of immigrants, allophones and non- Christian religious denominations increasing at faster pace than rest of population • 2007 projected targets for new permanent residents 265,000 6
“Access to Regional Services: Findings from Community Consultations with Diverse Populations in Halton” • Ideological • Awareness of Services and Programs • Sensitivity to Ethno-Racial, Cultural, and Religious/Faith Issues • Institutional • Communication • Language 7
Recommended Short Term Intervention To assure that Halton Region’s new Four Year Strategic Plan reflects the Region’s commitment to inclusion and diversity in its themes and goals by including the following proposed amendments. 8
Theme 3 • Recognizing the increase in the diversity of Halton’s population HMC previously recommended to amend Theme 3 to read: • “ Create and Improve Safe, Healthy, Livable and Inclusive Communities”* • This amendment was noted with appreciation in the Region’s most recent document “Draft Strategic Plan and Draft 2008 Actions” prepared for the public consultation on April 23, 2007. * Initially read: “Create and Improve Safe, Healthy, Livable Communities” 9
Theme 3 - Continued • It was also previously recommended to add goals under Theme 3 to reflect this amendment: • Recommended Goal : To strengthen equitable access - to ensure resources and opportunities are available to respond to the needs of diverse communities • Noted with appreciation that this has since been added to the new draft under “Theme 3 – Strengthen equitable access of programs and services to respond to the need of diverse communities”, with the addition of Goals 4a and 4b. 10
Theme 3 - Continued • Recommended under Goal 4c) : To support the continual building of community capacity - to ensure individuals and groups have a collective sense of belonging and contributing to the Region, and have the capacity to participate in the Region’s social, political and cultural life • Effective outreach to the diverse communities is needed to assure involvement in consultations, surveys, focus groups, advisory committees, etc. 11
Theme 3 - Continued • Recommended under Goal 4d : Expand services and programs in easily accessible, safe and familiar areas for members of diverse communities. • E.g. Neighbourhood hubs for parenting classes 12
Theme 3 - Continued • Theme 3 Goal 5 “Work with the community and Halton Regional Police Service to improve community safety” recommend: • Goal 5g) addition - Explore the development of an anti-discrimination strategy. 13
Theme 4 • Recognizing the economic advantage to utilizing what newcomers have to offer, to add an additional goal to Theme 4 - Promote and Strengthen Economic Growth and Prosperity: • Recommend Action 2j : To create an environment that attracts, values and retains the international expertise and skills of newcomers to Halton Region* 14
Theme 5 • Recognizing that a significant increase in newcomers from around the world will require good relations between all levels of government, to add a Goal to Theme 5 - Promote Cooperation and Partnerships Among All Levels of Government: • Recommend Goal 6 : Work with federal and provincial governments to plan for the arrival of newcomers to Halton, to better address services to respond to their needs, and to maximize their contributions to the 15 community
Conclusion Recognizing with deep appreciation the work Halton Region has already begun to undertake to address the needs of a swiftly growing and greatly diversifying population, HMC is committed to encouraging, supporting and promoting directions, programs, services and initiatives that are striving towards greater inclusion, equity and social justice for all – a vision of unity in diversity. 16
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