THUNDER BAY — The use of Mr., Mrs. and Ms. as prefixes when referring to speakers will be eliminated from all city council and committee meetings under new procedural rules.
Pronouns will also be done away with.
The changes are included in a draft consolidated by-law covering rules of procedure.
Describing the modifications as comprehensive, a report from administration notes, this is "a significant form and content change....which recognizes inclusivity as it relates to the removal of gender and pronouns."
Under the revisions, the mayor may only be referred to as Mayor (surname inserted) or Your Worship; the chair of the committee of the whole shall only be addressed as Chair (insert surname); all other members are to be addressed as Councillor (surname inserted).
Similarly, members of city administration shall be addressed by title – for example City Manager (surname inserted).
Presenters and deputants are to be addressed only as Presenter/Deputant (surname inserted).
City Clerk Krista Power told TBNewswatch the changes will apply to all meetings of council, committee of the whole, ad hoc committees, advisory committees and ward and town hall meetings.
People won't have the option of choosing to be addressed as Mr., Mrs. or Ms.
Power said the exclusive use of gender-neutral language is becoming increasingly common among Ontario municipalities, "just to be prepared for individuals, and not to single people out in the opposite way, to be inclusive to everyone."
The draft by-law is scheduled to be presented to city council Monday evening.
