The City of Montreal has validated a petition with 20,000 names on it, calling on City Hall to hold public consultations on systemic racism and discrimination.
It then approved the consultations, after verifying that the petition met the minimum requirements.
Balarama Holness, the former Alouettes player who's now studying law at McGill, spearheaded the petition, and he's hoping this will lead to more diversity at City Hall.
"The real work begins now," Holness, a council candidate in last November's elections, said. "This public consultation's success and impact depends on the collaboration of organizations, leaders, academics, and citizens from across the city. We need your support and your contributions.
"No longer will Montrealers tolerate racial profiling, employment discrimination — which includes micro-transgressions within corporations, housing discrimination, issues related to immigration, etc. [They've] declared that inclusion is a cornerstone of our culture here in Montreal, and in Quebec," he added.
He says the city is now working on a timeline for those consultations.