Councillor Tony Head wants to see how well the city's workers reflect the population of the city at large. (submitted photo/Tony Head)

By Susan McNeil

Diversity at City Hall

Councillor wants steps taken to address racism, inclusion in Prince Albert

Feb 27, 2025 | 5:00 PM

Considering an increasing political push in the United States that has led to a growing number of minorities losing their jobs, City of Prince Albert councillor Tony Head started thinking what the impact might be here at home.

On Monday, he asked city staff for a review of the municipal work force with an eye to seeing if it represents the community demographics, a move he said is long overdue and one that the mayor has already expressed support for.

He also wants some exploration on creating a city hall anti-racism policy.

“It’s more than time we do these changes or implement these policies,” Head stated.

“We’re seeing some racist policies from the States and my fears are that it’ll trickle down – or trickle up – to us here in Canada. I think we need to protect ourselves against them,” he said.

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Head, who is Indigenous, is on his second term as a councillor and said that while its good the city takes steps such as an Indigenous land-acknowledgement every meeting along with multiple other steps, there needs to be more than words.

“The City of Prince Albert’s commitment to truth and reconciliation has been performative and it needs to be intentional. Having a workforce that is representative of the community is real change,” he said.

Demographically, almost 50 per cent of the city’s population is Indigenous and that is not the case on council or on the payroll. What is not known what the actual percentage is. for either Indigenous people or any another group.

He then wants tangible steps taken to resolve any concerns.

“I hope that the rest of city council will stand with me to create a workplace that is genuinely representative of the community we serve,” he said.

Head would like to see that change at city hall specifically. He pointed to the Prince Albert Police Service, which has been working towards a representative workforce and is getting very close.

Public officials are already getting training on dealing with racism and what steps municipalities have within their power to take to mitigate it.

An anti-racism policy is one of those steps and the City of Prince Albert does not have one, Head stated.

While it was the impetus from events south of the border and the training that sparked ideas for improvement, Head said he sees issues in the broader community as well.

Head’s request to have a closer look at the city’s current processes are a very first step.

For now the motion was to direct administration to begin the background work in order to see where things stand. It can take around 90 days for staff to get reports done when asked by council.

According to the Canada Job Bank, a diverse workforce includes employees who have different backgrounds, abilities, cultures, skills and perspectives.

Inclusion ensures that all employees feel welcome, valued, accepted and supported and differences are embraced as good rather than being negative.

That is of value in a country with a population that will be made of 50 per cent immigrants by 2041, according to the Business Development Bank of Canda.

Human resources experts say that making sure diversity and inclusion are part of a workforce can increase business in the private sector for one, because customers are diverse as well and are more likely to frequent a business that they feel comfortable in.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: @susanmcnel.bsky.social