Call out fellow councillors when they put down other cultures: Myrie - Action News
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HamiltonWard 7 Byelection

Call out fellow councillors when they put down other cultures: Myrie

In February, one city councillor called out another at the city council table after the latter made insensitive remarks about Colombia. The next Ward 7 councillor should do that too, says a diversity consultant.

Coun. Ferguson described Colombia as a "backwards" country where wealthy people were drug lords

Damin Starr speaks to an audience of more than 200 people at an all-candidates meeting in Ward 7 on Wednesday. (Samantha Craggs/CBC)

Whoever winsthe municipal Ward 7byelectionshouldbe willing to call out fellowcouncillorsfor culturally insensitive remarks like Matthew Green just did to Lloyd Ferguson.

That was the take from EvelynMyrie, a Hamiltondiversity consultant, during an all-candidates event on Monday.

Myrietold 17 of the 22 candidates that it takes guts to speak upat the council table when anothercouncillorsays something inappropriate.

But if Hamilton is going to thrive, she said, then it has to be diverse.

It's a key piece I want to leave with you. Everyone wants to feel they belong.- Evelyn Myrie, diversity consultant

That means "making sure (everyone) feels a sense of belonging,"Myriesaid. "It's a key piece I want to leave with you. Everyone wants to feel they belong."

Myriewas referencing comments Ferguson, anAncastercitycouncillor, made about Colombiain February.

During a city hall committeemeeting, Ferguson described Colombia as a "backwards" country where thewealthy people were drug lords and chickens rode buses.

Green, a Ward 3councillor,spoke up later in the meeting. "If you want to make jokes about stereotypes, don't," he said.

The incident grew to include GilPenalosa, chair of World Urban Parks and Bogota mayor EnriquePenalosa'sbrother.

"GreatPeopleofHamiltonOntariodeserveanapologyforignorantremarksbyCouncillor@clrFerguson,"Penalosatweeted. "Not funny; sad."

There are times when you have to step out of your comfort zone and challenge comments by your colleagues.- Evelyn Myrie

The mayor, meanwhile,issued a statement affirming the city's working relationshipwith Colombia.Ferguson eventually apologized.

Myriehopes that the next Ward 7councillorwill be willing to speak up in such cases, even if it's politically difficult. Citycouncillorsoften rally votes amongst their peers.

But "there are times when you have to step out of your comfort zone and challenge comments by your colleagues," she said.

"I want to challenge the newcouncillor, when he or she gets elected, to take that kind of position. Diversity is one of the fundamental characteristics of places that will thrive."

Myrie added afterward that she was pleased with the diversity amongthe slate of Ward 7 candidates.

None of the candidates addressed diversity in their four-minute speeches on Monday. Many talked about affordable housing, poverty and the lack of transit on the Mountain.

Byelectionsare kind of weird in the sense that they're almost isolated in terms of their political discourse.- Tom Cooper, director, Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction

The Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction, Hamilton Community Legal Clinic and Social Planning and Research Council organized the event at the Ukrainian Hall. More than 200 people attended.

Tom Cooper, director of the Hamilton Roundtable for Poverty Reduction, said he was pleased the turnout. He was also pleased with the caliber and experience of the candidates.

"Byelectionsare kind of weird in the sense that they're almost isolated in terms of their political discourse," he said.

"But I think people in Ward 7 are very engaged in the political process. I think they would come away tonight feeling very confident that on March 21, they will elect someone who will represent their interests."

Tim Gordon, LucHetu,PaulNagy,MohammadShahrouriandRobert Young are also running in Ward 7 but did not attend the meeting.