Earlier this summer, the government announced the launch of a new Task Force to review the Employment Equity Act and break down the barriers to the recruitment, promotion and retention of members of equity-seeking groups in federally-regulated workplaces.
This issue is top-of-mind for our members and the Institute fully supports the work of the Task Force.
Given our members’ unique perspective on the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) situation in federal workplaces, we are eager to work with the Task Force towards developing permanent solutions to address this critical issue. We have contacted its Chair, Professor Adelle Blackett, to request a meeting with her team in the weeks ahead and have also submitted our analysis and recommendations in writing.
The representation of equity-seeking groups in the federal workplace cannot improve in the current context. Decisive and immediate action must be taken to finally create a federal workplace that reflects the people of Canada and their values. The federal government must move away from “quick fixes” and address this critical issue once and for all.
We are in the process of preparing a second document for the Task Force that will exemplify many of our racialized members’ staffing and employment equity experiences in federal service.