Letter to Coquitlam Council in support of Feb 27 2023 Dr Charles Best Student Delegation Request to Fly the Pride Flag

26 February, 2023

To: Coquitlam Council
Mayor Richard Stewart
Councilors Brent Asmundson, Matt Djonlic, Craig Hodge, Steve Kim, Trish Mandewo, Dennis Marsden, Teri Towner

Cc: Coquitlam Legislators
HON Selina Robinson, MLA, HON Mike Farnworth, MLA, Fin Donnelly, MLA, Bonita Zarillo, MP, Ron McKinnon, MP

Re: FEBRUARY 27 2023 COUNCIL-IN-COMMITTEE MEETING ITEM 2: “DR. CHARLES BEST SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS – REQUEST TO FLY PRIDE FLAG”

Dear Mayor and Council,

My name is Morgane Oger. I am writing to you today in my capacity as Director of the Morgane Oger Foundation, a Federally-registered non-profit society.

The Morgane Oger Foundation works to narrow the gap between Canada’s Law and the experience of communities impacted by discrimination. We do this work through education, public-policy advocacy, and through legal means.

The work of the Morgane Oger Foundation includes supporting members of disadvantaged communities asking that institutions, municipalities, or governments take measures that help address bias and discrimination that impacts them.

The Morgane Oger Foundation asks that, in support of the request of the delegation of Dr. Charles Best Secondary students, Coquitlam Council instruct staff that:

1. a Pride flag is to be raised annually by the City for Pride Week; and

2. staff organize an annual city-hosted event aimed at youth to show Queer youth they belong in, are welcome, and are taken into account in Coquitlam.

At this time, Queer people and allies must leave Coquitlam to feel belonging.

Like many other cities, the City of Coquitlam has a longstanding tradition of recognition of communities and community groups, of targeted programming, of services supporting communities, of marking cultural events, and of acknowledging diverse communities. These measures are intended to help create a sense of belonging and of being valued.

The Dr Charles Best delegation is rightfully asking for equivalent measures to help Queer persons enjoy the same sense.

Because of their lived experience, the Queer students bringing their concerns to Council are knowledgeable about the disadvantages and challenges youth in Coquitlam face as a result of their gender identity or expression, or on the basis of their sexual orientation.

In its 2022 study “Bullying victimization among sexually and gender diverse youth in Canada” [1], Statistics Canada concluded that:

“Sexually and gender diverse Canadians, which in this study, refer to those who are transgender, non-binary, or report same-gender sexual attraction, are more frequent targets of bullying.”

Another Statistics Canada report also reported that Police-reported hate-motivated crime on the basis of sexual orientation and sex or gender have been rising steadily. [2]

Raising a Pride or Progress Pride flag, reading a proclamation, or hosting inclusive programming that affirms that people of every gender identity or expression, and people of every sexual orientation, are valued members of a Community such as Coquitlam helps make persons feel welcome and safe. It sets a good example to children, youth and adults alike and establishes that in Coquitlam everyone is welcome.

The Morgane Oger Foundation further urges Coquitlam Council to consider all community requests to uplift diversity and reaffirm the value of diversity in the city through visible symbols.

The Morgane Oger Foundation further urges Council to consider that delivering programming aimed at supporting a disadvantaged group can fall under accommodation in BC Human Rights Law.

The statement on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion[3] of the City of Coquitlam states that

“As an organization, Coquitlam is on a journey to better serve our vibrant and diverse community by incorporating an EDI lens in all City business, including our policies and practices, the language we use, how we plan neighbourhoods, and how and what services we provide
Coquitlam’s commitment to EDI includes:

Building an inclusive and welcoming community and workplace.
Seeking to address the inherent injustices and biases that hinder and harm some people while benefiting others.
Advancing equity for all residents, and especially for groups that have historically been marginalized, such as Indigenous, racialized (i.e. associated with a particular race) or LGBTQ2S+ people. These groups are often described as ‘equity-deserving groups.’“

It is our suggestion to Council that hosting a youth event to mark Pride Week or raising the Pride Flag both fall well within the scope and intent of Coquitlam’s EDI commitments. Because this is EDI-related, the Morgane Oger Foundation suggests to Council that every possible effort should be made to accommodate this request.

If Coquitlam Council is uncertain about where its accountability lies when it comes to programming, the Morgane Oger Foundation urges that it ask for clarification from Staff about legal accountability for delivering and prioritizing relevant programming that meets its obligations under Section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms[4] in light of the existing programming and policies that City Council has implemented over the years. As the Morgane Oger Foundation is confident Staff will advise Council, the Charter has something to say about whether it is infringed when a Government body declines to take measures on grounds that are explicitly prohibited by Canada’s human rights law when such measures and actions have been undertaken by the City of Coquitlam on other grounds.

For example, hosting an event, marking a celebration, or providing a service or an accommodation.

According to the Government of Canada,

“section 15 applies to government action in the form of legislation, regulations, directions, policies, programs, activities and the actions of government agents carried out under lawful authority.” [5]

It is the opinion of the Morgane Oger Foundation that this includes municipal policies and programs.

On its official website the City of Coquitlam states that:

“Parks, Recreation, Culture and Facilities has responsibility for maintaining City parks, public green spaces and outdoor recreational and cemetery spaces; planning and delivering recreation activities for all ages; developing and organizing City events and supporting local community and cultural groups; and maintaining the health, safety and reliability of City facilities.

The department also coordinates the planning of future civic, recreation and culture facilities and guides projects through expertise in new park and facility design and construction.” [6]

Each year Coquitlam celebrates and recognizes the service of Canadian veterans with a number of ceremonies. In addition, since 2006 motor vehicles showing a veteran license plate park free in the city of Coquitlam. As Tri-City News reported in an October 31, 2022 article “Here's how you can honour all veterans in Coquitlam on Nov. 11”,

‘Parks operations manager Wendy Wiederick explained the city is set to continue its long-standing promises that credit those that have served in the military.

"The city commemorates the lives of fallen Coquitlam soldiers on rolls of honour on the second floor of city hall, and at the cenotaph at Blue Mountain Park, open year-round," she said in a news release.

"Coquitlam continues to provide free parking in City lots and street parking spaces for those displaying a veteran’s license plate, a tradition started in 2006."‘ [7]

In 2020, the City of Coquitlam paid tribute to mothers on its official website in its May 6, 2020 web page "Coquitlam Offers Ideas to Celebrate Moms this Mother’s Day” [8]:

“Coquitlam is paying tribute to all moms this week as we approach one of the most unusual Mother’s Day celebrations in history. City staff have created a CoquitlamSPIRIT package of creative ways we can all show appreciation for our moms – even if we can’t be with her in person.

The City would like to encourage families to visit our website at coquitlam.ca/coquitlamspirit for some ideas to spoil mom this Sunday, May 10.”

Like many other cities in Canada, Coquitlam offers age-specific programming and services. For example, recreation services for early childhood, children, teens, adults, and people 50 and older are outlined in the Coquitlam Winter 2023 Digital Program Guide[9].

The above are wonderful examples of how Coquitlam supports disadvantaged persons. Each of these initiatives offers an inspiring example of how Coquitlam stands by those whose contribution it values. They also set out expectations, as I have brought to your attention in this letter.

I sincerely hope that as Council considers this request every one of you sees that there is no legal or policy impediment to fulfilling the request of the delegation.

I hope you will see that denying their request would be to tell Queer youth and others in Coquitlam that Council does not take its Charter obligations seriously, insisting on showing this disinterest by telling Queer youth in Metro Vancouver that equity, diversity, and inclusion does not apply to Queer youth.

Instead, let’s recognize the significant effort the Dr Charles Best delegation made to bring their concerns to the attention of Council and show everyone that becoming engaged in the political process can bring meaningful resolution to their concerns.

Kindest regards,

Morgane Oger, MSM BASc
Director, Morgane Oger Foundation

Footnotes:

[1] Statistics Canada: Bullying victimization among sexually and gender diverse youth in Canada

[2] Statistics Canada: Police-reported hate crime, by type of motivation, Canada (selected police services) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ( 2012-2021)