The District of Port Hardy will be taking some actions based on the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
Councillor Jessie Hemphill, who chairs the District’s First Nations Relations Committee, brought two recommendations to council for approval.
The first was that the committee’s mandate be amended to include an annual report documenting the District of Port Hardy’s progress towards reconciliation with local First Nations and that the report be included in the district’s annual report.
Adding an annual reporting component would mean the district “would be more in line” with the 94 recommendations of the TRC, said Hemphill.
Hemphill also proposed that First Nation cultural education and training be provided to all District employees by the end of this year.
“I am going to vote against this,” said Councillor John Tidsbury, adding he could not vote for something without more details.
“I don’t have a clue what it’s going to cost and who’s going to pay for this,” Tidsbury said.
“I think this is a good idea. I think it’s a positive step,” said Councillor Fred Robertson.
As for the costs, “that’s what we’re going ahead and looking at. If they are prohibitive we’ll look at that,” Robertson said.
“There’s a benefit obviously, but there’s also a cost,” said Mayor Hank Bood.
In the end, council agreed to have a proposal put together for a cultural education and training program.
Councillor Tidsbury was opposed.