Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government has significantly reduced the decades-old requirement for companies seeking to do business with the government to have an employment equity program, iPolitics has learned.
Under the changes introduced this week to the Federal Contractors Program for Employment Equity, only companies with a workforce of more than 100 employees seeking contracts worth more than $1 million will have to prove they have an employment equity program designed to ensure that women, visible minorities, aboriginal peoples and people with disabilities don’t face discrimination. Previously, the threshold was set at contracts worth more than $200,000.
The change is expected to remove the requirement for nearly 400 companies employing 250,000 workers to have an employment equity program. Under the previous rules, an estimated 1,000 companies dealing with the government had to have an employment equity program. Under the new rules, only 613 federal government contractors will still be required to have one.
The employment equity requirements for the companies that remain have also been significantly reduced. While they will still have to set employment equity goals, make reasonable progress and collect workforce information, they will no longer have to meet requirements such as adopting accountability mechanisms for employment equity, consulting and collaborating with bargaining agents or employee representatives, adopting measures to remove barriers, adopting reasonable accommodation measures, adopting monitoring procedures or reviewing and revising their employment equity plans.
Instead of submitting their compliance measures when selected for a government contract, contractors will now only have to submit a workforce analysis and their representation goals a year after getting an initial contract.
However, the changes also strengthen the sanctions for those who flout the system. Previously, contractors found to be in non-compliance with the employment equity rules were still able to bid on contracts worth less than $25,000. Now, they will be barred from bidding on any federal government contracts.
In its 2010 report on the Employment Equity Act, the government said 130 companies were on the Federal Contractors Program’s list of ineligible contractors. The 2011 report did not mention the program.
While the measure affects procurement, which falls under the purview of Rona Ambrose, minister for both public works and the status of women, it is administered by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada – Labour, which answers to ministers Diane Finley and Lisa Raitt.
HRSDC officials said the move is part of the Harper government’s attempts to reduce red tape and regulations.
“This initiative is part of the Government of Canada’s Deficit Reduction Action Plan, which will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government operations and programs to ensure value for taxpayers,” the department wrote in an e-mailed response to questions from iPolitics.
“It is in line with the Red Tape Reduction Commission’s initiative to reduce the degree of regulatory burden facing small to medium sized businesses.”
Opposition parties were angered, however, to learn of the move.
“It’s outrageous to raise it to $1 million,” said NDP Public Works critic Linda Duncan.
The change, quietly posted to a government procurement website, affects a program that dates back to 1986 and former Progressive Conservative Prime Minister Brian Mulroney’s government. The Federal Contractors Program and the Mulroney government’s Employment Equity Act followed a 1984 report by Rosalie Abella, who now serves as a Supreme Court justice.
The government’s notice of the change says the program is intended to address employment disadvantages for four groups – women, aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities. “It’s goal is to achieve equality so that no person is denied employment opportunities for reasons unrelated to ability,” the government wrote.
Speaking in the House of Commons in 2006 to mark the 20th anniversary of the Mulroney government’s employment equity measures, former Conservative Cabinet Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn described the 1986 Employment Equity Act as “a historic turning point in the development of the labor market and the Canadian employment mosaic.”
Duncan questioned why Rona Ambrose allowed the changes to the procurement rules, particularly since she also serves as the minister responsible for the status of women.
“She is not even ensuring in her own portfolio that there are requirements for equity across the board.”
Duncan said the federal government should be setting an example for the private sector and suggested all federal contracts contain an equity provision.
“Why do they have any limit, period. Why don’t all government contracts require employment equity.”
The move was also greeted with anger from the Liberals.
“It’s outrageous that Conservatives are moving Canada so far backwards when it comes to employment equity,” said spokeswoman Kate Monfette.
Original Article
Source: ipolitics.ca
Author: Elizabeth Thompson
Under the changes introduced this week to the Federal Contractors Program for Employment Equity, only companies with a workforce of more than 100 employees seeking contracts worth more than $1 million will have to prove they have an employment equity program designed to ensure that women, visible minorities, aboriginal peoples and people with disabilities don’t face discrimination. Previously, the threshold was set at contracts worth more than $200,000.
The change is expected to remove the requirement for nearly 400 companies employing 250,000 workers to have an employment equity program. Under the previous rules, an estimated 1,000 companies dealing with the government had to have an employment equity program. Under the new rules, only 613 federal government contractors will still be required to have one.
The employment equity requirements for the companies that remain have also been significantly reduced. While they will still have to set employment equity goals, make reasonable progress and collect workforce information, they will no longer have to meet requirements such as adopting accountability mechanisms for employment equity, consulting and collaborating with bargaining agents or employee representatives, adopting measures to remove barriers, adopting reasonable accommodation measures, adopting monitoring procedures or reviewing and revising their employment equity plans.
Instead of submitting their compliance measures when selected for a government contract, contractors will now only have to submit a workforce analysis and their representation goals a year after getting an initial contract.
However, the changes also strengthen the sanctions for those who flout the system. Previously, contractors found to be in non-compliance with the employment equity rules were still able to bid on contracts worth less than $25,000. Now, they will be barred from bidding on any federal government contracts.
In its 2010 report on the Employment Equity Act, the government said 130 companies were on the Federal Contractors Program’s list of ineligible contractors. The 2011 report did not mention the program.
While the measure affects procurement, which falls under the purview of Rona Ambrose, minister for both public works and the status of women, it is administered by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada – Labour, which answers to ministers Diane Finley and Lisa Raitt.
HRSDC officials said the move is part of the Harper government’s attempts to reduce red tape and regulations.
“This initiative is part of the Government of Canada’s Deficit Reduction Action Plan, which will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government operations and programs to ensure value for taxpayers,” the department wrote in an e-mailed response to questions from iPolitics.
“It is in line with the Red Tape Reduction Commission’s initiative to reduce the degree of regulatory burden facing small to medium sized businesses.”
Opposition parties were angered, however, to learn of the move.
“It’s outrageous to raise it to $1 million,” said NDP Public Works critic Linda Duncan.
The change, quietly posted to a government procurement website, affects a program that dates back to 1986 and former Progressive Conservative Prime Minister Brian Mulroney’s government. The Federal Contractors Program and the Mulroney government’s Employment Equity Act followed a 1984 report by Rosalie Abella, who now serves as a Supreme Court justice.
The government’s notice of the change says the program is intended to address employment disadvantages for four groups – women, aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities. “It’s goal is to achieve equality so that no person is denied employment opportunities for reasons unrelated to ability,” the government wrote.
Speaking in the House of Commons in 2006 to mark the 20th anniversary of the Mulroney government’s employment equity measures, former Conservative Cabinet Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn described the 1986 Employment Equity Act as “a historic turning point in the development of the labor market and the Canadian employment mosaic.”
Duncan questioned why Rona Ambrose allowed the changes to the procurement rules, particularly since she also serves as the minister responsible for the status of women.
“She is not even ensuring in her own portfolio that there are requirements for equity across the board.”
Duncan said the federal government should be setting an example for the private sector and suggested all federal contracts contain an equity provision.
“Why do they have any limit, period. Why don’t all government contracts require employment equity.”
The move was also greeted with anger from the Liberals.
“It’s outrageous that Conservatives are moving Canada so far backwards when it comes to employment equity,” said spokeswoman Kate Monfette.
Original Article
Source: ipolitics.ca
Author: Elizabeth Thompson
No comments:
Post a Comment