At their recent meeting, Members of Council for the Municipality of Port Hope unanimously declared a climate emergency and adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
“Adopting these two critical declarations speaks to the values of this Council,” states Olena Hankivsky, Mayor of the Municipality of Port Hope. “I’m so very pleased to have advanced both declarations. They are appropriate developments in Port Hope’s movement towards reconciliation and as agents of change for the betterment of our community.”
Joining more than 600 municipalities across Canada in acknowledging the scale of the climate crisis, the climate emergency was declared for the purposes of naming, framing, and deepening our commitment to protecting our economy, our eco systems, and our community from climate change.
As part of the declaration, Council also made recommendations to staff to consider as an intermediary step in developing a Climate Action Plan, to be completed in 2023. These recommendations include identification of three priority actions in relation to mitigation and adaptation in the next 60 days.
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples establishes a universal framework of minimum standards for the survival, dignity, and well-being of the Indigenous Peoples of the world and elaborates on existing human rights standards and fundamental freedoms as they apply to the specific situation of Indigenous peoples.
As part of the declaration, Council also made recommendations on additional components to be considered as part of the Indigenous Awareness strategy, to be completed in 2023. These recommendations include consideration of the appropriateness of the Colonel Williams statue located in front of Town Hall as well as the photograph of the Colonel Williams statue unveiling, which is on display in the Council Chambers; to strengthen the Municipality’s Land Acknowledgement statement; to enhance staff Indigenous awareness training and education to take place on National Indigenous People Day (June 21); and to explore an opportunity to feature a public education event on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (September 30).
Staff will provide reports to Council on the development of the Climate Action Plan and Indigenous Awareness Strategy for their consideration and direction at a future meeting.
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