Engagement on the Employment Equity Act Modernization with equity-seeking networks in the public service

On December 11, 2023, the Minister of Labour announced the Employment Equity Act Review Task Force’s final report: A Transformative Framework to Achieve and Sustain Employment Equity, including the report’s executive summary. The report provides wide-ranging recommendations on how to modernize and strengthen employment equity in the federal jurisdiction.  

This arms-length Task Force engaged with hundreds of partners and stakeholders, including community organizations, public, private, and non-profit sectors, as well as advocacy groups and networks. The Labour Program is now seeking to re-engage with affected communities, unions, organizations, and employers to understand and refine how to effectively implement changes to the Act, including the federal public service. Legislation will be introduced at a later date.

A renewed Act that reflects today’s realities will help create a more vibrant and diverse workforce. More importantly, it will help build a country where everyone has a fair and equal chance to reach their full potential.

Written Submissions to Labour Program

The attached Consultation Paper, developed by the Labour Program, will help to orient engagement and written submissions, focusing on four areas: 1. Updating the purpose, designated groups and collection of survey data; 2. Supporting employees and employers; 3. Strengthening accountability, compliance, and enforcement; and 4. Improving public reporting.

== Upcoming Engagement Sessions

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The Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer (OCHRO) is once again partnering with the Labour Program to support this engagement process with organizations and Employment Equity groups within the Core Public Administration.

Individual FRE/ENG sessions - Engagements session will focus on the following themes and attendees are welcome to register to sessions of their choice: - Black Employees; - 2SLGBTQI+;   - Anti-racism and Employment Equity, Diversity and Inclusion practitioners;   - Religious minority employee networks.