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Many face isolation in Delta, slate contends

Many in Delta face the feeling of isolation, especially in North Delta where Indo-Canadians are telling the Independents Working for You slate that they do not have a voice and they feel ignored by city hall, according to a press release.
indepedents
Independents Working for You mayoral candidate Jim Cessford and council candidate Sandeep Pandher with several North Delta residents.

Many in Delta face the feeling of isolation, especially in North Delta where Indo-Canadians are telling the Independents Working for You slate that they do not have a voice and they feel ignored by city hall, according to a press release. There is support for cities like Delta to address excluded members of our community and the slate says it will act to do so.

In March 2004 UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) formed a Coalition of Cities Against Racism. Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination (“CCMARD”) has at its heart two goals: First, to share experiences and lessons learned with others and second, to strengthen policies to counter all forms of discrimination to achieve greater social inclusion.

“When elected mayor I will put forward a motion for Delta to join the 73 other Canadian municipalities in strengthening our city’s partnerships with local organizations, businesses and individuals concerned about discrimination, increase the sustainability and sharing of resources to combat racism,” said Jim Cessford, mayoral candidate for the Independents Working for You Slate. “Through the implementation of a CCMARD Plan of Action and the creation of an inclusive community we will have an enriched, safer and improved community life; improved service delivery, and reduced incidence of discrimination. We will be better prepared and more effective in our response should an incident of discrimination occur.”

Council candidate Sandeep Pandher said this focus on inclusion also benefits Delta youth who find themselves without a voice or avenues to express that voice.

“Through CCMARD membership Delta will work with the Youth Advisory Group of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO to establish a healthier, safer and happier city for our young people,” Pandher said. “There are many benefits for our city in taking this initiative not least of which is the fact that by signing the CCMARD 10 commitments we are accepting our role as guardian of the public interest, an organization that is fulfilling our human rights obligations and as a community we are sharing responsibility for respecting and promoting human rights and diversity.”