The plan to replace the term 鈥渧isible minorities鈥� with 鈥渞acialized groups鈥� in North Cowichan鈥檚 documents and communications is not being well received by some municipal councillors.
North Cowichan鈥檚 council approved a new policy regarding the use of gender-neutral and other inclusive language in municipal communications at its meeting on May 17.
But two councillors voted against it, with Coun. Tek Manhas taking particular exception to the new term, racialized groups.
He said that he has grown up in the Cowichan Valley and has faced racism, even as an adult.
RELATED STORY:
鈥淚 think the term racialized groups is denigrating to us,鈥� Manhas said.
鈥淚 just don鈥檛 get this policy. I suspect that it鈥檚 Anglo-Saxons that actually came up with these words by doing research online without actually consulting with any of the 鈥榬acialized groups鈥�. I鈥檓 surprised that this has come forward at all.鈥�
Coun. Bruce Findlay said that after hearing Manhas speak to the issue, he also doesn鈥檛 support the new policy.
鈥淲hen I read the words racialized groups, I thought it was quite divisive and harsh,鈥� he said.
鈥淭he term visible minority is not nearly that harsh.鈥�
Michelle Martineau, North Cowichan manager of legislative services, said that in staff鈥檚 research, they found that the term visible minorities is being phased out and the term racialized groups is being recommended by the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, and the Homeless Hub in B.C.
She said 鈥榲isible minorities鈥� is a term that is becoming outdated and inaccurate.
鈥淪o this is not a term that staff designed,鈥� she said.
RELATED STORY:
The former council unanimously voted to switch to using gender-neutral and inclusive language in 2021 after determining that language that is gender-neutral and inclusive avoids bias towards a particular sex or social gender; like using chairperson instead of chairman, firefighter as opposed to fireman, flight attendant rather than stewardess/steward and actor instead of actor/actress.
Coun. Chris Istace said all the new policy is asking of council and staff is to consider those they spend time with in their work and leisure time.
鈥淎 community is about being in this all together and a family looks out for one another, so this policy is just about being respectful and having consideration for those around us,鈥� he said.
Findlay said he wonders how many people in North Cowichan actually wanted a policy like this implemented.
鈥淚t just seems that it鈥檚 outside our lane in some ways,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e鈥檙e here to represent our residents and of the 32,000 people in North Cowichan, I鈥檇 be surprised if there is more than 10 or 15 per cent that might be on board with a policy like this. We鈥檝e had questions about some of the wording in this policy and I just don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 something that we should approve.鈥�
Council voted to adopt the new policy, with Manhas and Findlay opposed.
robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
Like us on and follow us on
