Presented by: Joanna Matthews, Executive Director April 27, 2007 - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Presented by: Joanna Matthews, Executive Director April 27, 2007

Prepared by: Laila Eiriksson Board of Directors

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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.

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• Settlement Services
• Employment Services
• Language Training
• Transitional Housing
• Volunteer Programming
• Awareness Raising

Events

HMC Programs Include:

• Bridge Training Program
• Anti-discrimination/ Cross Cultural

Awareness Programs

• Organizational Diversity

Competency Training

• Professional Interpretation /

Translation Services

• Also provide Advisory Services for community agencies

and participate on committees of the regional government

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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.

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• New Term for Regional Government
• Helps eliminate/discourage attitude/mentality
• f ‘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

Why Now?

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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

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“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

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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.

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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”

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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

• f diverse communities”, with the addition of Goals 4a

and 4b.

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• 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.

Theme 3 - Continued

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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

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• 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.

Theme 3 - Continued

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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

• f newcomers to Halton Region*

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Theme 5

• Recognizing that a significant increase

in newcomers from around the world will require good relations between all levels

• f 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 community

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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.