Whereas women represent over 50% of the population across the country, but according to 2023 research conducted by the Canadian Municipal Barometer at the University of Calgary on behalf of Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Canadian Women in Local Leadership (CanWILL) program only 31% of municipal elected representatives; and
Whereas Dr. Tracey Raney reports via her Social Sciences and Humanity Research Council (SSHRC) funded research that women (and especially racialized women) are disproportionately targeted by violence and harassment and what’s more, that the problem is ubiquitous throughout Canadian politics; and
Whereas Kingston City Council voted to support Private Member’s Bill 5, Stopping Harassment and Abuse by Local Leaders Act in 2022; and
Whereas Kingston City Council voted on May 2, 2023 to support the call of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario for the Government of Ontario to introduce legislation to strengthen municipal Codes of Conduct and compliance with them in consultation with municipalities; and
Whereas violence against women and gender inequities exist locally to the extent that Kingston City Council passed a motion on October 17, 2023 declaring intimate partner violence an epidemic of which women disproportionately experience; and
Whereas gender equality is enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms specifically Section 15 and Section 28, which is part of the Constitution of Canada, along with federal legislation of Canadian Labour Code Part II, Gender Budgeting Act, and the Employment Equity; and
Whereas gender equality means that diverse groups of women, men and gender diverse people are able to participate fully in all spheres of Canadian life, contributing to an inclusive and democratic society; and
Whereas Gender Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) is an analytical process that provides a rigorous method for the assessment of systemic inequalities, as well as a means to assess how diverse groups of women, men, and gender diverse people may experience policies, programs and initiatives; and
Whereas the Canadian Government has recently renewed its commitment in 2015, to GBA+, which first began in 1995, and is working to strengthen its implementation across all federal departments; and
Whereas the cities of Edmonton (2017), Halifax (2021) and Brampton (2023) have passed motions to support gender equity such as implementing mandatory GBA+ e-learning training for senior leaders in the Administration and/or for City Councillors utilizing the federal government’s e-learning tool, and creating Women’s Advocacy/Advisory Committees; and
Whereas the need for concrete action is critical to lessening gender inequity and eliminating violence against women;
Therefore Be It Resolved That Kingston City Council direct staff to:
- Implement mandatory Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) e-learning training for senior leaders in the administration and for City Council by the end of Q2 2025 that this training utilize the federal government’s e-learning tool;
- Develop within the IIDEA Division a plan to address gender equity in Kingston that considers the possible establishment of a Women’s Advisory Committee by no later than the end of Q4 2025.