Does Canada have "affirmative action"?

[Natnasci]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Federal government departments most certainly have targets and executive year-end bonuses are at least partly based on meeting these targets, among other things.

Interesting. Any documentation on this? I would love to know the percentages.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Natnasci

Interesting. Any documentation on this? I would love to know the percentages.

NEB - Reports - Employment Equity Report 2011-2012

(Have not gone through it thoroughly but some info should be in there.)

[Natnasci]

Originally Posted by Acajack

As mentioned previously, it's known as employment equity in Canada. It does not function much differently from affirmative action in the U.S. The more stringent requirements apply to government and public sector employment, but there are no obligations imposed on private companies for example. (Although some private companies in both countries may choose to do so anyway for a variety of motivations.)

I hate reading ACTS since for every statement there is another statement that seems to undermine the first statement. LOL

I did find this though about the private sector.

“private sector employer” means any person who employs one hundred or more employees on or in connection with a federal work, undertaking or business as defined in section 2 of the Canada Labour Code and includes any corporation established to perform any function or duty on behalf of the Government of Canada that employs one hundred or more employees, but does not include

(a) a person who employs employees on or in connection with a work, undertaking or business of a local or private nature in Yukon, the Northwest Territories or Nunavut, or
(b) a departmental corporation as defined in section 2 of the Financial Administration Act;"

…then this


"Employer’s duty

5. Every employer shall implement employment equity by
(a) identifying and eliminating employment barriers against persons in designated groups that result from the employer’s employment systems, policies and practices that are not authorized by law; and
(b) instituting such positive policies and practices and making such reasonable accommodations as will ensure that persons in designated groups achieve a degree of representation in each occupational group in the employer’s workforce that reflects their representation in
(i) the Canadian workforce, or
(ii) those segments of the Canadian workforce that are identifiable by qualification, eligibility or geography and from which the employer may reasonably be expected to draw employees.
Marginal note:Employer not required to take certain measures

6. The obligation to implement employment equity does not require an employer
(a) to take a particular measure to implement employment equity where the taking of that measure would cause undue hardship to the employer;
(b) to hire or promote persons who do not meet the essential qualifications for the work to be performed;
(c) with respect to the public sector, to hire or promote persons without basing the hiring or promotion on merit in cases where the Public Service Employment Act requires that hiring or promotion be based on merit; or
(d) to create new positions in its workforce."

I wonder just how much is actually monitored and enforced. Or if they just act on complaints?

[Cool85]

It's not called affirmative action, it's called employment equity.

No company is ever obligated to hire someone who is unqualified because if their skin colour, background, etc. I believe companies can hire whoever they want, but employment equity encourages them to evaluate their hiring practices and to ensure that they are equitable to 4 minority groups (visible minorities, women, aboriginals, and disabled).