Montreal is proud to create, for the first time in its history, a position of Commissioner for Racism and Systemic Discrimination, which will be supported by a team of professionals within an office. Reporting to senior management, the Commissioner will ensure that all Units of the City of Montréal act firmly and in a concerted manner to combat racism and discrimination. The Commissioner's first mandate will be to develop an action plan in this regard.

"The Office of the Commissioner to Combat Racism and Systemic Discrimination will be a pillar of our organisation to make Montréal a more just and inclusive city. We are thus responding directly and fully to the second recommendation of the report of the Office de consultation publique de Montréal and the diversity discussion table. I was committed to creating this position by the end of the fall and I am proud to have done this so quickly," said Montréal Mayor Valérie Plante.

"When I was entrusted with the responsibility of fighting racism and discrimination within the Executive Committee, I quickly realised the importance of setting up a dedicated structure to act in a transversal way to fight them. The creation of the Office and the position of Commissioner is a big step for Montreal, and I invite Montrealers to spread the word about the position within their networks," added Cathy Wong, member of the Executive Committee, responsible for diversity, employment inclusion, the French language and the fight against racism and discrimination.

"The Bureau will play a key role in achieving Montreal's goals of becoming more just and inclusive. Its mandate will include informing citizens and municipal employees of their rights and the recourse mechanisms available to them. It will intervene with all members of the municipal community and propose structural measures aimed at creating an inclusive municipal system for everyone," explained Serge Lamontagne, Director General of the City of Montréal.

The Office of the Commissioner for Combating Racism and Systemic Discrimination will be made up of a team of professionals with varied expertise and experience, including a city resource specialized in racial profiling who will work full-time within the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal.

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF MONTREAL - Office of the Mayor and the Executive Committee