Mr. Speaker, after 25 years of negative experience, affirmative action is under fire all over the United States. In June the Supreme Court may discard it altogether because of the growing body of evidence against it. However, in Canada the Liberals plod ahead in spite of evidence and public opinion proposing expansion of employment equity provisions through Bill C-64.
Employment equity encourages a mentality of victimization among Canadians. It harms morale in the public service and damages the self-esteem of designated groups. It poisons the workplace when jobs are awarded on the basis of sex or skin colour. Employment equity is costly and it overlaps with provincial and municipal programs.
While the government should ensure equality of opportunity and not equality of results, this government is now legislating offensive practices of discrimination.
Employment equity is unjust. It is expensive. It will not work. It is bad policy. Though well intentioned, it is wrong for Canada and the government must shelve this discriminatory legislation. No more C-64.