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Racism-Free Workplace Strategy

It’s All About Fairness and Good Business

In Canada, diversity, justice and equality are extremely important values. We strive to promote them in every aspect of Canadian life, including the workplace.

To nurture these values, the Government of Canada introduced the Racism-Free Workplace Strategy (RFWS), a commitment to the promotion of racial equality and fairness in the workplace and to the removal of barriers caused by discrimination.

It is crucial that we eliminate discriminatory barriers that prevent Canada from maximizing the use of skills and abilities of all in the workforce. Racism in the workplace affects us all, reducing our country’s productivity and economic growth.

A Historical Overview

The Government of Canada’s Racism-Free Workplace Strategy is a key component of A Canada for All: Canada’s Action Plan Against Racism. The plan, launched in 2005, aims to combat racism and racially based discrimination in the community and to increase the effectiveness of the Employment Equity Act and the Federal Contractors Program. Along with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada’s Labour Program, it involves Canadian Heritage, Citizenship and Immigration Canada and Justice Canada.

Initiatives are geared towards two designated groups: members of visible minorities and Aboriginal peoples. For these groups, racism remains an all‑too‑familiar fact of life. According to Statistics Canada, about 36 percent of visible minorities have experienced unfair treatment or discrimination due to their ethnicity, race, language or religion. Of these, 56 percent faced discrimination in the workplace.

Providing Support

The Labour Program provides assistance and tools to help build racism-free workplaces. RFWS officials across Canada work with employers, unions and community groups, providing:

  • awareness sessions on creating more inclusive workplaces and on race-related issues;
  • advice and support to address racism-related issues in the workplace; and
  • information on recruitment, advancement and retention best practices for Aboriginal people and members of visible minorities.

Innovative Partnerships and Networks

The Labour Program has established partnerships to foster fair and inclusive workplaces. For instance, it has produced, in collaboration with the National Film Board, a series of short documentaries entitled “Work for All”. The films portray individuals who courageously share how race and discrimination in the workplace have affected them, and their wish for more inclusive communities.

Other RFWS activities include networking sessions for employers, unions and local community groups to help them become partners in creating racism-free workplaces.

Mark the Day

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on March 21st around the world. Canada was one of the first countries to support this United Nations initiative and launched its own annual campaign against racial discrimination in 1989.

Accomplishment in the workplace is related to performance, dedication, and the desire to get things done. It has no colour, no sex, no language and no religion.

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Date Modified:
2011-10-04