Updated legislation aims to tackle discrimination in public service: PSC
By The Canadian Press on July 5, 2023.
OTTAWA – Federal government departments and agencies will now have to evaluate whether their hiring practices are discriminatory as changes to the Public Service Employment Act take effect. Public Service Commission spokeswoman Élodie Roy says the changes will strengthen diversity and inclusion in the federal government workforce. The changes were among several amendments introduced to the act in budget implementation process in 2021 but these changes did not take effect until this week. They require the public service to evaluate how staffing methods, such as interviews and written exams, might discriminate against women, or Black, Indigenous, LGBTQ and disabled people. The Public Service Commission will also have more resources to investigate mistakes or misconduct that affect their hiring processes. Previously amendments took affect that revised the job qualifications for members of equity-seeking groups and ensured permanent residents were given the same hiring preferences as Canadian citizens. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 5, 2023. —- This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship. 10-9
