City of Hamilton shares consultant’s plan to engage public on hate mitigation policies and procedures

HAMILTON, ON - Today the City of Hamilton’s Audit, Finance and Administration Committee reviewed a consultant’s proposed plan to engage equity-seeking groups, community partners and other stakeholders to obtain input on the City’s draft hate mitigation policies and procedures.

City Council directed staff in August to hire a community engagement consultant to develop an engagement plan and ensure broad community input. Sage Solutions, a Guelph-based company with extensive experience in community consultation initiatives in Guelph and across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas, was hired in November.

Over the coming months, Sage will engage with the community to further understand root causes of hate, apply best practices to mitigating hate, and offer key recommendations on how to address hate and discrimination within the broader Hamilton community. 

Public engagement on the City’s draft hate mitigation policies and procedures will take place February to July 2020. In the coming weeks, the City will share more information about how residents can provide their input.

Quick Facts

• July 2019, Council adopted staff’s recommendations report aimed at mitigating the use of public spaces through targeted hate-related incident policy, procedures, notification of assembly, trespass by-law and enhanced corporate security procedures (LS19031/PW19068).
• August 2019, Council further directed staff to hire a community engagement consultant who will engage with equity-seeking groups, community partners and other stakeholders to obtain input on the City’s draft hate mitigation policies and procedures (CM19006).
• November 2019, staff retained public engagement consultant Sage Solutions, a Guelph-based company with extensive experience in community consultation initiatives in Guelph and across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas.  

Additional Resources

• Audit, Finance and Administration Committee, Item 7.3 – Hate Related Activities on City of Hamilton Properties