e-3147 (Employment and labour)

Thank you for your petition regarding the experience of Black Canadians and requesting that the Black population be recognized as a separate designated group under the Employment Equity Act (EEA).

The Government of Canada believes that Canada’s strength lies in its diversity. Creating equitable, diverse and inclusive workplaces will help grow our middle class and build a country where every Canadian has a real and fair chance to succeed. One of the ways the Government of Canada promotes equality is through the EEA, which seeks to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment experienced by four designated groups: women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities in federally regulated workplaces. These groups were identified by the 1984 Equality in Employment: A Royal Commission Report as having lower salaries, higher unemployment rates and greater concentration in lower-paying occupational groups.

Since 1984, we have learned more about these barriers and the communities that comprise the designated groups. The category of visible minorities, for example, encompasses different populations with different labour market experiences. This is why, in 2021, a review of the EEA is necessary and is a priority for our government.

In the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, our Government announced an investment of $6.6 million to support a Task Force on modernizing the EEA. The Minister of Labour’s supplementary mandate letter (January 2021) includes the commitment to launch a review of the EEA  in alignment with the aim of advancing work on equity, diversity and inclusion for women, LGBTQ2 Canadians, Indigenous Peoples, Black and racialized Canadians, persons with disabilities and other underrepresented groups.

The Task Force will undertake a comprehensive review of the EEA and its supporting programs, consult with a wide range of stakeholders and provide recommendations on how to modernize the EEA. Among the issues the Task Force will be considering is determining what changes are required to the designated groups covered by the Act, how the EEA can lead to better representation, retention, and promotion of equity-deserving groups, and what data employers should be required to collect.

The Government of Canada has taken steps to advance equity over the years, but we know that more work needs to be done to create a level playing field for all Canadians. The Government of Canada continues to be committed to supporting equity-deserving groups, including Black people, and building a society where everyone has equal rights and opportunities to be their true, authentic selves.