Measures required to eradicate racism
The Liberal government made a commitment in Budget 2021 to make changes to the Public Service Employment Act
to promote a more diverse and inclusive workforce
to promote a more diverse and inclusive workforce
(Ottawa) Activists call on the federal government to fight anti-black racism in the federal public service by implementing timely changes, not by making long-term promises.
The Liberal government made a commitment in Budget 2021 to make changes to the Public Service Employment Act to promote a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
It also promises to spend $ 285 million over five years to collect disaggregated data that will help understand the experiences of racialized people in Canada.
Nicholas Marcus Thompson, one of 12 federal employees who filed a class action lawsuit against the government, says their lawsuit is one of the reasons the federal government made promises in the budget.
He judges that the government does not need five years to collect disaggregated data in order to realize the under-representation of black employees in the upper echelons of the civil service and remove the obstacles they face.
“The delay is very long. Black employees, on the other hand, continue to suffer and report to work every day being injured, he says. There are a lot of mental health issues associated with discrimination, systemic discrimination, that black employees have faced and continue to face. "
The complainants allege that racialized people have faced systemic discrimination in hiring and promotions for nearly half a century.
“There is a glass ceiling right at the bottom of the civil service ladder for black employees. The upper echelons are reserved for whites, ”accuses Mr. Thompson.
None of the complainants' claims have yet been proven in court. A hearing to authorize the class action is scheduled for June.
Treasury Board spokesperson Martin Potvin says it is premature to comment on the lawsuit, but the government will consider all options, including an out-of-court settlement, as it seeks to address the concerns raised.
Systemic discrimination
According to the National President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, Chris Aylward, this racism is widespread. He argues that opportunities for career growth or advancement were limited due to the systemic exclusion of black employees.
“The Public Service of Canada presents itself as merit-based and emphasizes its inclusive and non-partisan nature, but the systemic discrimination and racism that we see there shows that this is not the reality,” he said. . There is no doubt in my mind about this and it is not specific to any department or agency. It is government wide. "
He said current data collected by the government only allows people to identify themselves as members of a visible minority, so the number of black employees working at each level of the civil service is unclear.
“We believe that [disaggregated data] is essential to understanding the disparities for some marginalized communities in Canada, and in particular the black community,” he says.
Mr. Potvin recognizes that more work is needed to remove prejudices, barriers and discrimination in the public service.
“We must take deliberate and continuous steps to eliminate systemic discrimination from our institutions and our culture,” he says.
The vice-president of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, Norma Domey, the first black executive in the union's century-old history, laments that the staffing process in the public service is not transparent.
M me Domey reports that 60% of appointments were not previously displayed in 2020, compared to 29% in 2016.
“It is the excessive use of this practice that further excludes [marginalized] groups. Given the demographics and prejudices of recruiters, this ends up being a huge disadvantage for people like us, ”she says.
She adds that black employees fear reprisals if they challenge the system.
M me Domey said that the union was initially consulted on the possible changes to the Employment Act in the public service, but we still do not know what will propose the government.
“We hope that there will be progress in this entire staffing process and in the overhaul of the Public Service Employment Act. "
Mr. Potvin indicated that this information will be available once the bill has been presented to Parliament.
Mr. Thompson believes the government should create a separate category for black employees under the Employment Equity Act to ensure better representation in the public service. He laments that blacks are part of the entire visible minority group.
“What we have seen is that [the public service] has consistently favored one or two groups from the entire visible minority category. It therefore meets the requirements of the Employment Equity Act. "
This story was produced with financial assistance from the Facebook Stock Exchanges and The Canadian Press for News.
It also promises to spend $ 285 million over five years to collect disaggregated data that will help understand the experiences of racialized people in Canada.
Nicholas Marcus Thompson, one of 12 federal employees who filed a class action lawsuit against the government, says their lawsuit is one of the reasons the federal government made promises in the budget.
He judges that the government does not need five years to collect disaggregated data in order to realize the under-representation of black employees in the upper echelons of the civil service and remove the obstacles they face.
“The delay is very long. Black employees, on the other hand, continue to suffer and report to work every day being injured, he says. There are a lot of mental health issues associated with discrimination, systemic discrimination, that black employees have faced and continue to face. "
The complainants allege that racialized people have faced systemic discrimination in hiring and promotions for nearly half a century.
“There is a glass ceiling right at the bottom of the civil service ladder for black employees. The upper echelons are reserved for whites, ”accuses Mr. Thompson.
None of the complainants' claims have yet been proven in court. A hearing to authorize the class action is scheduled for June.
Treasury Board spokesperson Martin Potvin says it is premature to comment on the lawsuit, but the government will consider all options, including an out-of-court settlement, as it seeks to address the concerns raised.
Systemic discrimination
According to the National President of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, Chris Aylward, this racism is widespread. He argues that opportunities for career growth or advancement were limited due to the systemic exclusion of black employees.
“The Public Service of Canada presents itself as merit-based and emphasizes its inclusive and non-partisan nature, but the systemic discrimination and racism that we see there shows that this is not the reality,” he said. . There is no doubt in my mind about this and it is not specific to any department or agency. It is government wide. "
He said current data collected by the government only allows people to identify themselves as members of a visible minority, so the number of black employees working at each level of the civil service is unclear.
“We believe that [disaggregated data] is essential to understanding the disparities for some marginalized communities in Canada, and in particular the black community,” he says.
Mr. Potvin recognizes that more work is needed to remove prejudices, barriers and discrimination in the public service.
“We must take deliberate and continuous steps to eliminate systemic discrimination from our institutions and our culture,” he says.
The vice-president of the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, Norma Domey, the first black executive in the union's century-old history, laments that the staffing process in the public service is not transparent.
M me Domey reports that 60% of appointments were not previously displayed in 2020, compared to 29% in 2016.
“It is the excessive use of this practice that further excludes [marginalized] groups. Given the demographics and prejudices of recruiters, this ends up being a huge disadvantage for people like us, ”she says.
She adds that black employees fear reprisals if they challenge the system.
M me Domey said that the union was initially consulted on the possible changes to the Employment Act in the public service, but we still do not know what will propose the government.
“We hope that there will be progress in this entire staffing process and in the overhaul of the Public Service Employment Act. "
Mr. Potvin indicated that this information will be available once the bill has been presented to Parliament.
Mr. Thompson believes the government should create a separate category for black employees under the Employment Equity Act to ensure better representation in the public service. He laments that blacks are part of the entire visible minority group.
“What we have seen is that [the public service] has consistently favored one or two groups from the entire visible minority category. It therefore meets the requirements of the Employment Equity Act. "
This story was produced with financial assistance from the Facebook Stock Exchanges and The Canadian Press for News.
MAAN ALHMIDI
THE CANADIAN PRESS
https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2021-05-02/fonction-publique-federale/des-mesures-exigees-pour-eradiquer-le-racisme.php
THE CANADIAN PRESS
https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/politique/2021-05-02/fonction-publique-federale/des-mesures-exigees-pour-eradiquer-le-racisme.php