Shocking Internal Report Exposes Rampant Discrimination at the Head of Canada's Public Service
29 Julio 2024 - 12:48PM
Today, the Coalition Against Workplace Discrimination released an
internal report obtained through the Access to Information Act,
which revealed blatant and widespread discrimination at the Privy
Council Office (PCO). The federal government is Canada’s largest
single employer, and it relies on the Privy Council Office to
manage the public service, while also supporting the Prime Minister
and the federal Cabinet. As such, the findings are extremely
troubling, and a concern to all Canadians.
Through interviews with staff conducted over the course of six
months, Dr. Rachel Zellars discovered a workplace where racial
stereotyping, microaggressions, and verbal violence was regularly
practiced and normalized, including at the executive level, and a
culture that discouraged reporting, and lacked accountability
mechanisms. Further, Dr. Zellars found that white employees and
executives detailed career-advancing opportunities that were in
stark contrast to those of Black, Indigenous, and racialized
employees, who were clustered in temporary and lower-level
positions.
In 2021, the then Clerk of the Privy Council, Ian Shugart,
issued a Call to Action to public service leaders to take specific
and meaningful actions to address racism, equity, and inclusion.
But in the report, Black and racialized employees at PCO describe
its Corporate Services department as a key barrier to that Call to
Action.
The PCO provided the Coalition with an update on the steps they
have taken since this report was released internally. While its
list of initiatives show some attempt to implement the report’s
recommendations, they lack the depth required to fully tackle the
systemic issues identified, and there are still many key
recommendations that have not been addressed.
The Coalition Against Workplace Discrimination is calling
for:
- The resignation of Deputy Clerk
Natalie Drouin, who was responsible for the discrimination file
since 2021; and the resignation of Assistant Secretary to the
Cabinet, Ministerial Services and Corporate Affairs, Matthew Shea,
the head of Corporate Services since 2017.
- The federal government to appoint a Black Equity Commissioner
to address systemic anti-Black racism across all levels of
government (similar to the two representatives appointed to address
Antisemitism and Islamophobia)
- The federal government to establish a department of African
Canadian Affairs to centralize and give priority anti-Black racism
work.
- The federal government to immediately implement the Employment
Equity Act amendments it promised in December 2023, to add Black
Canadians as an employment equity group.
- The federal government to provide restitution to Black public
sector workers who have launched a class action lawsuit based on
years of discrimination, as identified in multiple federal
reports.
QUOTES
“It is shocking that this level of blatant discrimination
occurred in one of Canada’s highest offices. Once again, those who
have been perpetrators of discrimination are being tasked with
implementing change. This approach has consistently failed, and
it’s time for real arms-length accountability mechanisms, and
structural changes to meaningfully address anti-Black
discrimination.” Nicholas Marcus Thompson, President, Black
Class Action Secretariat.
“This report underscores the urgent need for the federal
government to immediately table the Employment Equity Act
amendments, in line with the Task Force's recommendations.
Additionally, the government must swiftly settle the class action
filed by Black public service workers to address the systemic
discrimination they have endured.” Larry Rousseau,
Executive Vice President, Canadian Labour Congress.
“As representatives of professionals working within PCO, we are
outraged that such discriminatory practices have been allowed to
persist. It is clear that significant, structural changes are
urgently needed to create a fair and inclusive workplace for all
employees. The federal government must act decisively to implement
the necessary reforms and ensure accountability at all levels."
Nathan Prier, President, Canadian Association of
Professional Employees.
ABOUT:The Coalition Against Workplace
Discrimination consists of: The Black Class Action
Secretariat (BCAS), the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC),
The Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE), the
National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), the
Canadian Black Nurses Alliance (CBNA), The Enchanté Network, the
Red Coalition, the Federation of Black Canadians (FBC), 613-819
Black Hub, the Black Canadians Civil Society Coalition (BCCSC). The
Coalition previously highlighted discrimination at the Canadian
Human Rights Commission, which is currently being investigated by
an international accreditation body.
MEDIA CONTACT: media@bcas-scrn.org
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/18fc6358-7910-4230-9764-4ccc8268e748