Since 2005 the City of Toronto has field-tested and is now piloting an equity lens. “The lens is a valuable tool that can ensure consistency in considering equity in all (we) do,” says Rose Lee, the City’s Diversity Management Coordinator. The lens requires the user (eventually all City Divisions) to ask four questions of every program or activity that impacts on women, persons with disabilities, racial minorities, immigrants and refugees, persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, transsexual or two-spirited, seniors and youth. (For more on the questions go to www.toronto.ca/diversity/pdf/rt-ae-equity-lens.pdf:)

1. Who is impacted?
2. How did you identify the barriers the group faces and how did you assess the impact of the policy/program on them?
3. How did you reduce or remove the barriers?
4. How did you measure the results of the policy/program to see if it worked?

Currently the City Manager is required to use the lens in his reports to Council; identified City programs are being reviewed through the lens; and the Budget Office has virtually adopted the lens for use in service planning. After a year of piloting, a report on the lens will be submitted to Council to further its implementation by City Divisions.

The lens is just one of several tools the City has made available to its Divisions to help in becoming more accessible, equitable and inclusive, Lee says, adding that her Division is so far “pleased with the progress” of the pilot initiative.