Federal Government Reviews Employment Equity Act Amid Calls for Modernization

The federal government is reviewing the Employment Equity Act (EEA) to modernize it for contemporary Canadian workplaces. The EEA was passed in 1986 with the goal of removing obstacles that disadvantaged populations encounter and promoting justice, equality, and inclusion for workers in federally regulated enterprises. This modernization project has a comment period that runs from May 3, 2024, until July 31, 2024. In December

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2023, the EEA Review Task Force published its final report, "A Transformative Framework to Achieve and Sustain Employment Equity," which included unbiased, fact-based suggestions. The government supports these recommendations and has announced initial commitments, such as adding Black people and 2SLGBTQI+ people as designated groups and updating terminology to reflect current understandings of Indigenous and racialized communities.

The government seeks feedback from affected communities, organizations, and other stakeholders on how to implement these changes and additional recommendations. Consultations focus on the EEA's purpose, definitions of designated groups, data collection methods, support for employees and employers, and mechanisms for accountability and enforcement. Input will inform legislative amendments to update the EEA. Federal employers are encouraged to review the consultation paper and provide feedback to ensure their perspectives are considered in the modernization process.

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