Race Religion and Ethnic Origin
Race, Religion And Ethnic Origin
The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination identifies discrimination on the grounds of race, colour and ethnic origin as an obstacle to friendly and peaceful relations among people, cooperation between nations, and international peace and security. The Convention has been ratified by a majority of the United Nations' member states. Yet, as the world enters a new century, the problems of racial and ethnic discrimination persist. As evidenced by events on several continents, we are a long way from seeing an end to ethnic conflict.
In Canada, open hostility between groups or communities is rare. Problems of this nature do arise, but judging by the complaints the Commission receives, racial discrimination in this country is most frequently encountered in the form of systemic barriers to employment, or in situations involving individual workers or service users. When such discrimination does occur, it is often subtle, and consequently more difficult to address.
Visible Minorities in the Public Service
In 1997, the Commission published a study entitled Visible Minorities and the Public Service of Canada. The report noted that the federal government's record in hiring and retaining members of visible minority groups was inferior to that of the private sector. The report also suggested that visible minority employees often viewed the public service as unresponsive and hostile. There was a general feeling that some aspects of the staffing system acted as barriers to the hiring and promotion of visible minority candidates.
In April 1999, the President of the Treasury Board set up the Task Force on the Participation of Visible Minorities in the Federal Public Service. Lewis Perinbam, who chairs the Task Force, is a former Vice President of the Canadian International Development Agency whose career has included work with the World Bank and UNESCO. The Task Force is made up of former public service employees and representatives from the private sector, academia, and visible minority organizations. It has indicated that it will consult widely, and develop an action plan aimed at improving the participation of visible minorities in the public service. The Commission views the establishment of the Task Force as a positive step, and looks forward to the publication of its report and to the government's subsequent response.
The need for action to address barriers in the public service has been reinforced by the results of the Public Service Employee Survey, which were published in November 1999....