Government Programmes in Canada - Human Resource and Skills Development Canada

Canada Student Loans Program (CSLP)

Under this Program, the Canada Study Grant gives women the opportunity to apply in certain fields of doctoral studies for a grant of up to $3,000 a year for a maximum of three years. The fields encompass disciplines in which women have historically been under-represented:

• engineering and applied sciences;
• agriculture and biological sciences;
• mathematics and physical sciences;
• arts, social sciences and related fields;
• dental specialities;
• physical education; and
• law and jurisprudence.

In addition, effective August 1, 1998 Canada Study Grants for students with dependents were made available to full-time and part-time students with dependents, to assist them with their education costs. Eligible students may qualify for grants of up to $3,120 per loan year.

Employment Equity Vision Award and Certificates of Merit

In 1990, the government of Canada introduced this merit awards program for organizations in recognition of their achievements in employment equity. Previous winners include the following:

a. Eli Lilly Canada Inc

Lilly’s employment equity plan set out goals and strategies designed to make the company a better, fairer and more enjoyable place to work for Canadians from all walks of life. The company’s hiring, career development, recognition and promotion policies were geared to address the special needs of designated group members. Lilly’s commitment to diversity and equity was demonstrated by its innovative employee feedback process and by its mentorship program, which encouraged young women to pursue studies in the sciences.

b. Atlantic Tractors and Equipment Limited

This company has taken the step of retraining an external employment equity specialist to complement its in-house expertise. Hiring was reviewed by the firm’s vice-president, finance, to ensure that a reasonable attempt had been made to attract candidates from designated groups. Meanwhile, the company worked with community colleges to encourage members of designated groups to enrol in heavy equipment courses, and its "Bring our daughters to work day" invited young women to explore non-traditional occupations.

c. IBM Canada Limited

IBM developed a company diversity census, which had provided new information about dependent care and the use of workplace programs. Other initiatives had focused on the requirements of women-owned businesses and ethno-cultural communities.

d. Queens University

Queen’s employs nearly 4,000 faculty and staff. In 1997, a collective agreement between the university and the Queen’s Faculty Association specifically promoted equity in employment for members of under-represented groups and set out a series of procedures to further this objective. To facilitate the new recruitment policy, more than 400 members of the Queen’s community who serve on university hiring committees have received equity training through a series of 17 workshops delivered by an outside consultant. In addition, a hiring manual promoting diversity was circulated to all departments.

Equal Pay Program

In 1991, the former Department of Human Resources Development Canada launched, the Equal Pay Program, a major review of pay equity compliance by federally regulated employers. The Equal Pay Program applies to employers covered by the Canada Labour Code, that is, all federally-regulated companies, regardless of size. The wider jurisdiction of the Canadian Human Rights Act includes all companies covered by the Canada Labour Code plus all federal Crown corporations and the federal public service.

This Program is a proactive approach which gives employers an opportunity to understand and implement pay equity. A three-step process is used in order to determine employer compliance and respond to non-compliance:

• Education - an educational visit from regional Labour Affairs Officers to inform employers of their obligations and the means by which to fulfil these obligations;
• Monitoring - visits to the same employers to verify progress, obtain general information and answer any questions; and
• Audit/Inspection (on-site inspection) - if the Equal Pay Inspector identifies reasonable grounds for believing that gender-based wage discrimination exists, then the case is referred to the Canadian Human Rights Commission (see the Chapter on Legislative and Administrative Institutions) for investigation and resolution. Audits verify that the actions taken by employers to implement pay equity have placed them in compliance with the law.

Federal Contractors Program

The Federal Contractors’ Program is a non-legislated federal contracting policy of the Department of Human Resources Development Canada, concerning employment equity. It applies to contractors doing business with the federal government who are not under federal jurisdiction (and are therefore not covered by the Employment Equity Act), who employ 100 or more employees and who have contracts valued at $200,000 or more. Under this Program, contractors are required to develop and implement employment equity plans to address under-representation in their workforce for designated groups shown to experience disadvantage in employment: women, members of visible minorities, aboriginal peoples and persons with disabilities.