A Prince Albert city councillor is pushing local officials to make the municipal workforce more reflective of the community and take stronger measures against racism.
Councillor Tony Head, who is serving his second term, said it is time the city reviews who it is hiring and why.
Head, who is indigenous, told council he is concerned by what he sees south of the border, where political policies have resulted in minorities losing jobs.
Fearing similar trends could reach Canada, Head asked city staff to examine whether Prince Albert’s municipal workforce is representative of the local population.
He also called for the creation of an anti-racism policy at city hall, something he said is missing but badly needed.
“It’s more than time we do these changes or implement these policies,” said Head.
“We’re seeing some racist policies from the States and my fears are that it’ll trickle down or trickle up to us here in Canada. I think we need to protect ourselves against them.”
Although Prince Albert acknowledges traditional indigenous territory before every council meeting and has introduced other initiatives related to reconciliation, Head wants more than symbolic gestures.
“The City of Prince Albert’s commitment to truth and reconciliation has been performative and it needs to be intentional,” said Head.
“Having a workforce that is representative of the community is real change.”
Prince Albert’s population is almost 50% indigenous.
Head said that figure is not reflected among council members or the city payroll.
Actual percentages are unknown, but Head said he wants the city to collect the data and report back with possible remedies if it fails to align with population figures.
“I hope that the rest of city council will stand with me to create a workplace that is genuinely representative of the community we serve,” said Head.
He pointed to the Prince Albert Police Service as an example of progress, noting the force has taken steps to mirror the demographics of the city and is getting close to that goal.
Head would like to see city hall follow a similar path.
While local officials, including Mayor Greg Dionne, have shown support for reviewing hiring processes, Head also wants an anti-racism policy in place.
Head pointed out that city staff are already receiving training on addressing racism and understanding what powers a municipality holds to curb it.
Still, with no official anti-racism policy at city hall, he believes a policy would turn talk into action.
Council supported Head’s request, directing administration to begin a review of current practices and return with a detailed report.
Typically, staff require up to 90 days to finish a review.
Head said that gathering this information is just the first step in making tangible changes.
According to the Canada Job Bank, a diverse workforce includes employees from different backgrounds, abilities, cultures, skills, and perspectives.
An inclusive environment ensures everyone feels welcome, valued, and supported, which is crucial as Canada’s population grows increasingly multicultural.
The Business Development Bank of Canada estimates that immigrants will make up 50% of the country’s population by 2041.
