The City of Burnaby's Social Planning Committee is recommending an anti-racism task force after a city staff report suggested mayor's roundtables to tackle the issue.
On May 4, the social planning committee for the City of Burnaby approved a motion to look at potentially developing an anti-racism task force. The idea for the task force, which would look similar to the Mayor's Task Force on Housing, came as a result of advocacy by Burnaby resident Doris Mah.
Mah, representing the Stand With Asians Coalition that she founded and also a social planning committee member, led the city's Day of Action Against Racism – which the city proclaimed May 10. Shortly after, she requested the city look at forming a task force.
In a report dated June 30, 2021, city staff came back with a different proposal, suggesting mayor's roundtables would be a more suitable option.
"The roundtable format is being recommended as it provides a prominent, flexible and community-responsive model of conversation and action," city staff said in the report.
"Opposed to a task force, a roundtable format will allow for greater community member participation, a flexible format and for rotating chairs while also enabling direct participation by council."
But on July 6, Mah and her colleagues on the social planning committee, sent the report back to staff with Burnaby City Clerk Blanca Zeinabova telling the NOW the committee "was not happy" with the report.
On July 7, Mah released a statement saying a task force would signal a stronger message than the suggested roundtables.
"There are clear signs of the rise of Islamophobia and hate crimes against Black, Indigenous, People of Colour and the racialized communities across Canada," Mah said.
"A Mayor’s Task Force on Anti-Racism signals a much stronger message and commitment than the roundtables. It is time for us as a city and a community to take a strong stance and to implement concrete steps to combat racism and hate crimes."
According to Burnaby RCMP, there has been a 350% increase in anti-Asian hate crimes during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2019, the detachment responded to six hate crimes with an Asian victim or target – that number jumped to 27 in 2020, police said.
Of all the hate-motivated offences reported to police in 2020, 63% (27 out of 43) were identified as having an Asian victim or target – that was up from 30% (six out of 20) in 2019.
Burnaby’s top cop, Supt. Graham De la gorgendiere, said the incidents have ranged from property damage, including offensive graffiti, to threats and assaults.
