Canada
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Canada has a history of discrimination that includes the mistreatment of indigenous peoples, slavery, and racist policies directed towards people from China and Japan. In the 1960s and 1970s, Canada began to enact anti-discrimination laws that addressed issues of discrimination in employment, housing, and public services. Human rights commissions were also created to investigate complaints and conduct public education activities. Then in 1982 the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was enacted; Section 15(2) of the Charter explicitly permits affirmative action programs.
In 1983 the Royal Commission on Equality in Employment was established. This group’s mandate was the promotion of employment opportunities and the elimination of systemic discrimination. As a result of the Commission’s research and discoveries, several affirmative action programs were put into place. The Employment Equity Act (1986) requires large employers to assess their employment practices and institute proactive policies to ensure equal representation. The Federal Contractors’ Program requires large companies that bid on large government contracts to develop employment equity programs. Finally, most institutions of higher education employ affirmative action programs voluntarily.
These efforts have made great differences for indigenous people, people of color, women, and people with disabilities. These groups still struggle with systemic discrimination, however, and continue to be underrepresented in management and executive positions.
More Information on Equity in Canada
NDP Touts its Affirmative-Action Policy’s Success Rate – The Province – April 26, 2009
Success with Crown Corporations Shows Affirmative Action Works – The Gazette – November 21, 2008
Canada Court Upholds Native Indian-Only Fishing—Reuters Canada—June 27, 2008
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Canadian Human Rights Commission—Employment Equity
History of Employment Equity—Canada Ministry of Labour
Sheppard, C. (2000). Challenging Systemic Racism in Canada. In E. Kennedy-Dubourdieu (Ed.), Race and Inequality: World Perspectives on Affirmative Action. Burington, Vermont: Ashgate Publishing.
