Mayor Sohi addresses need to continue addressing racism

Edmonton’s mayor is highlighting the need to continue to address racism in the community, as city council approved $16 million during budget adjustments that will maintain and increase services which includes advancing the work on Edmonton’s anti-racism strategy.

“I think for far too long we have not paid enough attention to the racism and marginalization that people face in our city and we are changing that,” said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.

“Anti-racism and reconciliation with Indigenous communities and building an Edmonton for all of us is a strong commitment that I made, and we are delivering on that commitment.”

Sohi says council is adding more grant funding for community organizations, while also bringing more education to the city’s workforce so they can better respond to the needs of the diverse population they serve with $3.6 million dispursed between 2022-2023 for projects contributing to anti-racism.

Sohi says the commitment to following through on the City’s Indigenous framework is important. He always says it’s critical to be “better listeners, and better connectors and to be better advocates on behalf of Indigenous communities.

“That is very important to me and very important to this council and we have upped our game on that”

He added it’s imperative the City continues to seek guidance from Indigenous elders on how to work together when it comes to reconciliation.

“I don’t think we have done enough to repair the relationship with First Nations, Metis, and Inuit communities of this land and so a commitment to reconciliation is a very very important commitment that we need to continue to deliver on.”

The City’s Indigenous framework focuses on answering the truth and reconciliation calls to action, which includes the commitment to build a residential school monument.

The City is also committed to providing further protection to Missing Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and 2S+ Peoples, and advance calls for justice.