Canadian Coalition Of Municipalities Against Racism And Discrimination (CMARD)

WHEREAS the Canadian Commission for UNESCO is calling municipalities to join the Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination and to be part of UNESCO’s international coalition launched in 2004;

WHEREAS the Federation of Canadian Municipalities endorses the Call for a Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination and encourages its members to join;

WHEREAS Municipal governments in Canada, along with other orders of government, have responsibilities under Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as federal, provincial and territorial rights codes, and therefore have an important role to play in combating racism and discrimination and fostering equity and respect for all citizens;

WHEREAS the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association endorses CMARD through its Welcoming and Inclusive Communities Partnership with the Alberta Human Rights Commission and the Alberta Human Rights branch of Alberta Culture and Community Spirit; and

WHEREAS municipalities benefit through membership in CMARD by creating a framework for action to combat racism and other forms of discrimination in their community, sharing best practices and resources with other municipalities across Canada and accessing support to create a welcoming and inclusive community where residents are able to participate in all aspects of community life.