After months of discussions with mixed reviews, Sarnia council has voted to move forward with diversity training to be held in public session.
Council directed staff to acquire the services of EQU8 Strategy Inc., which provided the lowest cost.
Councillor George Vandenberg was the first to challenge the proposal.
"We're going to be spending $4,339.20 for two hours, is that correct?" Vandenberg asked. "Because, I'm going to indicate that I will not be taking the training. I am a member of the law society, I take training every year, and I don't see the point of spending that kind of money for this."
Councillor Dave Boushy agreed and warned it would divide the community and council.
"Do we really need this to start with? I'm sorry, but I don't think we need that," Boushy said. "I think we have a good council. We have a good city. From personal experience, it is a good community, and the best community to raise children in and anybody who says it's not true, I tell you... it is true, from my experience."
Councillor Adam Kilner admitted he would have had a hard time spending $11,000, but felt $4,300 was justified.
"At the end of the day, one of the things I think is incredibly important is, you don't know me if you don't spend time acknowledging my story and I don't know you, if we don't spend time learning your story," said Kilner.
He said he supported the training because he's witnessed the advantages of acknowledging and understanding the stories of minority groups.
"I do these workshops in other organizations, but people have brought me to this table and would like me to, in this venue, also demonstrate that I care about each and every one of our councillors, our citizens, and our residents," Kilner said.
Councillor Chrissy McRoberts believed the training would provide some insurance.
"We need to have training and in the future come back and say, you were trained or had the option to be trained and you disregarded that and disrespected someone in our community," said McRoberts. "We need that safeguard there to protect our community."
Council previously turned down an offer by Diversity Ed to provide the training for free and opted to issue a Request For Proposals (RFP).
At that time, councillor Bill Dennis said he wouldn't take part in future diversity training.
Dennis, whose outburst stopped a meeting then prompted an apology in October, said nothing during discussions on Monday.
Councillors Vandenberg, Boushy, and Dennis voted against the recommendation.
