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Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination

The Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination (CCMARD) is one of the six coalitions that compose the International Coalition of Cities Against Racism.  The International Coalition, launched in March 2004 by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), consists of networks of cities interested in sharing their experiences to improve their policies against racism, discrimination, exclusion and intolerance. 

CCMARD addresses the need for a platform to broaden and strengthen the ability to protect and promote human rights through coordination and shared responsibility among local governments, civil society organizations and other democratic institutions. It is based on a common desire to achieve two goals:

  1. Share experiences and lessons learned with others;
  2. Strengthen policies to counter all forms of discrimination to achieve greater social inclusion.

Signatory municipalities of CCMARD rely on Ten Common Commitments to inform and guide their work. These commitments relate to three primary areas of municipal responsibility:

1. The Municipality as a Guardian of the Public Interest

  1. Increase vigilance against systemic and individual racism and discrimination.
  2. Monitor racism and discrimination in the community more broadly as well as municipal actions taken to address racism and discrimination.
  3. Inform and support individuals who experience racism and discrimination.
  4. Support policing services in their efforts to be exemplary institutions in combating racism and discrimination.

2. The Municipality as an Organization in the Fulfillment of Human Rights

  1. Provide equal opportunities as a municipal employer, service provider and contractor.
  2. Support measures to promote equity in the labour market.
  3. Support measures to challenge racism and discrimination and promote diversity and equal opportunity in housing.

3. The Municipality as a Community Sharing Responsibility for Respecting and Promoting Human Rights and Diversity

  1. Involve citizens by giving them a voice in anti-racism initiatives and decision-making.
  2. Support measures to challenge racism and discrimination and promote diversity and equal opportunity in the education sector and in other forms of learning.
  3. Promote respect, understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity and the inclusion of Aboriginal and racialized communities into the cultural fabric of the municipality.

To realize these goals, CCMARD benefits from the valuable support of numerous partners, including the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies, the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, the Racism-Free Workplace Strategy, HRSDC – Labour Program, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, Human Rights Commissions in Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan, the Union des municipalités du Québec, the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association, the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities, and the National Association of Friendship Centres.  University research chairs, such as the Chaire de recherche en immigration, ethnicité et citoyenneté (Université du Québec à Montréal), federal and provincial ministries and agencies as well as an important number of local stakeholders complete the network.

57 municipalities  in nine provinces and one territory have joined CCMARD.

Image Toolkit CCMARD
Toolkit for Municipalities, Organizations and Citizens - Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination

The Toolkit provides practical information to support the work of municipalities and their partners in strengthening their local initiatives and policies against racism and discrimination.  It includes:

Practical Information on how to join the Coalition, develop and implement a Plan of Action, monitor your community’s progress, engage youth, collaborate with Aboriginal communities, and much more.

Examples of Good Practices documenting promising municipal initiatives linked to the Ten Common Commitments and offering practical advice to advance the Coalition.

Useful Tools such as examples of press release and media advisory, examples of resolutions adopted by City Councils, samples of Plans of Action, and many other tools.

Additional Resources about international and national days/weeks/months, awards, funding, media resources (many of them free) as well as a list of films related to the Ten Common Commitments prepared by the National Film Board of Canada (NFB).

To view the complete Toolkit: [PDF 6MB]

To view the Toolkit Summary Brochure: [PDF 795KB]

To view specific sections of the Toolkit:

LINKS

International Coalition of Cities against Racism

www.unesco.org/new/en/social-and-human-sciences/themes/human-rights/fight-against-discrimination/coalition-of-cities/

Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies
www.cashra.ca

Canadian Race Relations Foundation
www.crrf-fcrr.ca

Racism-Free Workplace Strategy, HRSDC – Labour Program
www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/labour/overviews/workplace_
equality/rfws.shtml

Federation of Canadian Municipalities
www.fcm.ca

Union des municipalités du Québec
www.umq.qc.ca

Alberta Urban Municipalities Association
www.auma.ca

Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities
www.unsm.ca

National Association of Friendship Centres
www.nafc.ca

Chaire de recherche en immigration, ethnicité et citoyenneté (Université du Québec à Montréal)
www.criec.uqam.ca