Plan for Toronto city hall Indigenous office moves ahead

"This is a great starting point," a member of the Aboriginal affairs committee said before the proposal was endorsed.

Thestar.com
Nov. 3, 2017
By David Rider

Toronto's most ambitious bid to recognize its first residents with a permanent Indigenous office stumbled when city hall security refused to allow a ceremonial drum into the building.

Councillor Mike Layton, co-chair of the Aboriginal affairs committee, had to rush downstairs to assure security officers the drum was vital for a smudge-and-singing ceremony to appropriately launch the historic meeting.

In the end the ceremony happened and the committee, comprised mainly of Indigenous community leaders, endorsed city manager Peter Wallace's proposal to make reality out of their long-fostered dream of a dedicated office. The plan must, however, get through Mayor John Tory's executive committee, city council and the city's budget process before any hiring can start.

Wallace, the head of Toronto's civil service, told the packed committee room his proposal is an attempt to bring meaningful action to the city's pledge to honour eight priority "Calls to Action" from among 94 in the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada report.

Tracey King, Ryerson University's Aboriginal hiring consultant, told fellow committee members: "We've been wanting this since 1996 and it's finally at the table." She expressed hope of one day having an Indigenous voice on Toronto city council, adding: "This is a great starting point."

Committee members had concerns with some details of the planned five-person office that would reach out to First Nations, Métis and Inuit residents and visitors, while working with city departments to incorporate Indigenous views into plans and policy-making.

King was among several committee members who questioned why the senior Indigenous Office staffer would have "manager" status, while others reporting directly to Wallace have more seniority as directors.

Todd Ross of The Metis Nation of Ontario doubted five staff could properly meet the needs, noting an earlier recommendation for nine.

The 2016 census states Toronto is home to more than 46,000 Indigenous residents. One committee member said health records suggest the number is closer to 75,000 and many non-residents come and go from reserves for health care and job opportunities.

Ross also asked Wallace to ensure committee members get a say in requests to the federal and provincial governments, and potentially the private sector, for help offsetting the office's $480,000 annual cost plus $40,000 for a consultant to help develop plans for the office.

Wallace told committee members he and the city are committed to putting meaningful action behind the pledge to participate in reconciliation. He cautioned he can't "throw away the (city) rule book" but vowed to work with Indigenous leaders to "get it more right than wrong."

A man who accompanied the drum from Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre, and asked to be identified as "Bear" originally from Ojibwa Nation in Fort Nelson, B.C., told reporters the invited guests were confronted by a security officer demanding: "What are you doing?"

"The city is the first person to say those (reconciliation) words, but when it comes time for the actions to support those words, you get stuck at policies that represent a barrier to the work of this committee," and the lives of Torontonians, he said, expressing hope for more understanding.

Layton apologized, thanked the visitors for the drumming and welcome song, and called the Indigenous Office proposal an important step in trying to share Toronto's prosperity.

Asked if Tory will support the proposal, the mayor's office emailed a statement that he has long been supportive of "expanding the Indigenous office" - from one Indigenous consultant position within the equity and diversity office - and looks forward to the outcome of the Aboriginal affairs committee meeting.