Employment equity agreement evolves from rights complaint

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The tip of the proverbial iceberg was melted in March when the Treasury

Board Secretariat settled an employment equity complaint with the

Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) in Ottawa.

The complaint was filed with CHRC by the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs on

Nov. 28, 1990. Sixteen other federal departments and agencies were

named in the complaint.

With 0.9 per cent of the Treasury Board's 720 jobs occupied by

Aboriginal employees, the AMC alleged that the number of jobs held by

Aboriginal people at the Treasury Board is below the availability of

Aboriginal people. Over the next five years the Treasury Board has

agreed to make reasonable efforts to ensure that three per cent of all

new hirings will be Aboriginal people.

Sandra Goldstein, acting chief conciliator for the CHRC said the

Treasury Board will report on its progress annually to the CHRC. At the

same time, consultations concerning the other 16 federal departments and

agencies and the outstanding complaint will continue.

Goldstein said the process of filing a complaint, having it

investigated and acted upon is a slow and complex business.

"Anyone can file a complaint under Section 10 of the Human Rights Code,

but the complaint has to be thoroughly investigated before a conciliator

is appointed. I can't comment on this complaint specifically but an

employment equity complaint means barriers to employment must be

identified before it will go any further," Goldstein said.