Peterborough city council moves to strengthen anti-racism policies following Integrity Commissioner report

Peterborough city councillors have approved measures to strengthen anti-racism policies and training following a report from the Integrity Commissioner Guy Giorno into the use of a racial slur by Mayor Jeff Leal while speaking at Trent last year.

Council directed staff to amend the 2023–2050 Strategic Plan to include anti-racism and race relations as a priority under the Community and Wellbeing pillar. All members of Council and city staff will receive anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion training, with a plan and timeline to return within 90 days.

Staff were also instructed to review and update the Council Code of Conduct to explicitly prohibit racial slurs, including the N-word, with proposed amendments to be presented within 60 days.

The actions follow a complaint submitted to the Integrity Commissioner under Section 31 of the Code of Conduct, which allows complaints regarding contraventions by Council members to be formally investigated.