By Cecilia Nasmith

Northumberland County council's Economic Development, Tourism and Planning Standing Committee voted at this week's meeting to refer the 50-30 Challenge to council's regular June 16 meeting for a wider discussion.

The numbers refer to aspirational goals to have certain populations represented on Canada's municipalities, boards and other organizations.

The aim is to have 50-50 gender parity within these positions, which accounts for the 50.

The other aim is to have 30% of these positions held by under-represented populations – racialized persons, those living with disabilities (including invisible and episodic), members of the LGBTQ2 community and First Nation, Inuit and Metis peoples.

This initiative is a challenge issued by the Federal government to create more diversity in organizations with the intent of representation and inclusion, Director of Economic Development and Tourism Dan Borowec said.

“It's an opportunity to put Northumberland at the forefront of opportunities that exist for both Federal and provincial funding that further supports this type of inclusionary environment,” he added.

“First of all, it makes good business sense,” Settlement Services Co-ordinator Emilio Ojeda pointed out.

“We know with diversity we also have different points of view, different cultures to make the workplace a little more dynamic.”

That doesn't mean that it will happen immediately, Ojeda added.

“Little by little, when we have the chance to hire a new person or move a person from one location to another, do it with a diversity open mind. That's it.”

“The reason we brought this forward is for both the committee and council's consideration,” Borowec said.

“Typically we don't enter into challenges without the approval of a committee or council.”

One big first step, committee chair Bob Sanderson said, is the baseline data. Unable to get numbers or percentages on county staffing, he said it would be difficult to participate in a challenge without knowing where the county stands at the start.

“The senior management team have already had some preliminary conversations, looking at how we start to develop a program about diversity, equity and inclusion at the county, but we recognize we don't have the skills or capacity internally,” Chief Administrative Officer Jennifer Moore said.

“We are looking at some resources that would be required, going forward.”

The motion put forward in response to the presentation called for council to consider the report when it meets in regular session, with the recommendation that staff provide information on what resources might be required to help implement such a challenge.