Purpose: Population data is gathered and analysed to inform and guide the design and implementation of city interventions, ensuring they are as just and intelligent as possible, and orienting action to combat racism and systemic discrimination.
Structure: The Office de Consultation Publique de Montréal (OCPM) published a report in June 2020 on a consultation regarding systemic racism and discrimination in the city. The Commission convened for this consultation, recommended to: collect and publish population data, every three years, of a comparative nature, and differentiated to identify and measure gaps between communities in areas such as employment, public security, housing, culture, and social and economic development.
Implementation of this recommendation is driven by the Office of the Commissioner for the Combat against Racism and Systemic Discrimination, and by the Social Affairs Intelligence and Optimisation Division of the Service for Diversity and Social Inclusion of the city.
Process: Data is understood as the means to respond to a question, they are a means to an end, not an end in themselves. Data gathering is preceded by a mobilisation of knowledge and a gathering of intelligence on social affairs, to enable an accurate definition of the question, and an adequate identification of the data to be gathered. Both data and a culture of data analysis are required, and the administration has to be ready to use the data in pursuit of an inclusive transition. This readiness starts from a vision and political strategy for inclusion.
Five themes are identified as needing to be addressed in an inclusive transition: administration without discrimination; public security without profiling; territorial equity; cultural equity; and inclusive citizenship. Data is noted as one of the seven levers for action on these themes. The other levers noted are: vision and political strategy; governance; organisational practice; communication; an ecosystem of institutional and citizen organisation; and events.
Key reference document: Racism and Systemic Discrimination in the competences of the City of Montréal, Office de Consultation Publique de Montréal (OCPM), 2020. (French)
