Government Operations Committee on Dec. 10th, 2013

[Anne-Marie Robinson]

There are four groups under the Employment Equity Act: aboriginal people, persons with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and women. I think those groups have been fairly consistent over the years.

We share this area of responsibility with Treasury Board, and Treasury Board has general responsibilities with respect to employment equity. Because the commission is responsible for appointments under the Public Service Employment Act, our main responsibility is to ensure that the appointments are barrier free. For example, for persons with disabilities, we ensure that the appointment process itself provides accommodation where necessary so that everybody is on a level playing field when it comes to appointments under the act.

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Regarding persons with disabilities, we are trying to make a conscious effort to hire persons with disabilities, and also aboriginals. Have you been able to quantify if there's been success in that hiring process?

[Anne-Marie Robinson]

If we look at the overall population data, as issued by Treasury Board rather than the commission, we can say we are making good progress. As my colleague, Madam Laurendeau, just mentioned, where we still see some gaps and have more work to do is generally at the most senior levels in government and in certain occupational groups. Our work, more and more, is focused on targeting those areas where we still have to make progress. Our job is to ensure that the appointment mechanisms are in place to reach our objectives. There are many others with responsibilities, including ensuring that there is accommodation when necessary and ensuring there are special developmental programs. There's a whole range of measures that can be used to ensure that we meet our targets overall.

[Ron Cannan, Conservative, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Thank you for your efforts to modernize our federal workforce. It's beneficial to all Canadians.

Thank you very much.

[The Chair, NDP, Pierre-Luc Dusseault]

Thank you, Mr. Cannan.

Mrs. Day, do you want to ask another question before we adjourn?

[Anne-Marie Day, NDP, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

Just one question, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, NDP, Pierre-Luc Dusseault]

Yes, since you have one minute left.

[Anne-Marie Day, NDP, Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC]

I want to come back to women and appointments to senior and executive positions. I am thinking of National Defence and other similar departments, and even Parliament. Are women occupying decision-making positions, managerial positions? Are their numbers equivalent to those of men? If not, what are the percentages?

[Anne-Marie Robinson]

I don't have that information on hand today, but I can send it to the committee. I will talk about it with my colleague from the Treasury Board who is responsible for information on employment equity for the general public.

[The Chair, NDP, Pierre-Luc Dusseault]

Thank you.

If you want to obtain additional information, you can always talk to the clerk, who will then share it with the members of the committee.

I want to thank you again for being here. I want to wish you very happy holidays, especially Ms. Laurendeau, as this was her last day at the Public Service Commission. She will begin a new mandate tomorrow.

[Hélène Laurendeau]

Where did that come from?

[The Chair, NDP, Pierre-Luc Dusseault]

Congratulations. I wish you all the best in that new mandate.

I also want to wish happy holidays and a happy 2014 to all the committee members and assistants behind us. We will see each other in 2014.

Mr. Trottier, do you want to add anything?

[Bernard Trottier, Conservative, Etobicoke—Lakeshore, ON]

I just want to wish everyone happy holidays and a happy new year.

[The Chair, NDP, Pierre-Luc Dusseault]

Thank you, everyone. The sitting is adjourned.