Woolwich councillors to receive mandatory inclusion, diversity training
Woolwich council passed a motion that will require all councillors to complete mandatory equity, diversity and inclusion training.
On Monday, council voted nearunanimously to approve the motion.
The motion put forward by Coun. Scott McMillan seeks to have “Woolwich council recognizes the need to reaffirm our commitment to create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive township for all our residents.”
The motion adds: “Woolwich council recognizes the need to reject all discrimination and hate directed towards any person or group of people guaranteed protection under the Ontario Human Rights Code.”
Coun. Patrick Merlihan said he is happy to see council moving forward in this direction and was willing to support the motion.
Before the vote took place, he said the hope was for a unanimous vote in favour of passing the motion.
The motion was passed by a vote of 4-1 with Coun. Murray Martin the only person opposed to the motion.
In August, Coun. Murray faced criticism for comments he made during a council discussion on a proposed rainbow crosswalk in Elmira.
In remarksthat lasted over a minute, Coun. Martin spoke about his opposing beliefs on a rainbow being used as a crosswalk to show support for members of the LGBTQ2S+ community,
At the time he said he opposes a rainbow being used as a symbol in this regard as he believes the rainbow is a “gift to us from God.”
Following backlash from some community members, Woolwich Mayor Shantz’s office released a statement saying in part: “Upon reflection, I apologize and regret not stopping the comments from Coun. Martin pertaining to the rainbow crosswalk. Woolwich prides itself on being a forward-thinking inclusive township who invites and welcomes residents including those from the 2SLGBTQ+ community.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cargo ship had engine maintenance in port before Baltimore bridge collapse, officials say
The cargo ship that lost power and crashed into a bridge in Baltimore underwent 'routine engine maintenance' in port beforehand, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Far North police 'dispatch' polar bear stalking schoolyard
Police and local hunters in an Ontario Far North First Nation community have “dispatched” a polar that was showing abnormal behaviour and treating the area as a hunting ground.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
Families shocked after Niagara Falls hotel cancels bookings made year in advance of solar eclipse
After having the foresight to book their Niagara Falls hotel rooms more than a year in advance, several families planning to take in the solar eclipse next month were shocked to find out their reservations had been cancelled.
B.C. rescuers face 'high likelihood' of failure to reunite orphaned orca with pod
The race to reunite an orphaned orca calf that’s stuck in a shallow lagoon with a neighbouring pod has entered its fifth day, and a marine scientist says the clock is ticking.
Video shows police interrupting auto theft in progress outside Toronto home
New video footage obtained by CP24 shows the attempted theft of a vehicle in a North York driveway earlier this month that was ultimately interrupted by police.
Majority of Canadians believe in life after death: Angus Reid survey
A new survey from the Angus Reid Institute has found that a majority of Canadians believe in some form of life after death, a proportion that has held steady for decades.
MyPillow, owned by U.S. election denier Mike Lindell, formally evicted from Minnesota warehouse
A court ordered the eviction Wednesday of MyPillow from a suburban Minneapolis warehouse that it formerly used.