Report alleges rampant discrimination at Privy Council Office

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July 30, 2024 Story by: Editor

A report has revealed widespread discrimination against Black and racialized employees within Canada’s Privy Council Office (PCO) . The internal report, authored by Rachel Zellars, highlights multiple instances of racial stereotyping, microaggressions, and verbal abuse directed at these employees. Zellars has been working with the federal government to implement recent initiatives promoting anti-racism, equity, and inclusion within the Federal Public Service.

The report underscores the detrimental impact these experiences have had on workers' mental health and their reluctance to participate in the organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. According to the findings obtained by the Coalition Against Workplace Discrimination through the Access to Information Act, many employees expressed a deep-seated distrust toward the PCO.

A concerning statistic from the report is that two-thirds (67%) of Black employees had tenures at the PCO lasting less than six months, with 7% leaving within three months.

Nicholas Marcus Thompson, president of the Black Class Action Secretariat, commented on the findings, stating, “It is shocking that this level of blatant discrimination occurred in one of Canada’s highest offices. Once again, those who have been perpetrators of discrimination are being tasked with implementing change. This approach has consistently failed, and it’s time for real arms-length accountability mechanisms, and structural changes to meaningfully address anti-Black discrimination.”

Earlier this month, another report revealed the PCO’s failure to investigate controversial social media posts allegedly made by the newly appointed head of the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) under an alias.

Calls for action have intensified. In 2021, Ian Shugart, then Clerk of the Privy Council, urged public service leaders to take concrete steps to address racism, equity, and inclusion. Zellars’ report, based on her engagement with 53 employees in group sessions and 58 workers through the Safe Space initiative, outlines several key recommendations for PCO. These include:

Implementing a Black-centric approach within the PCO, drawing on best practices.

Developing equitable staffing practices supported by data.

Establishing transparent, department-wide standards for evaluation and promotion.

Building trust and transparency with DEI-related employee networks.

Creating an anti-racism secretariat or appointing a chief diversity officer independent from corporate services.

Launching a communication campaign within the public service to underscore the significance of the Call to Action.

The Coalition Against Workplace Discrimination has also called for the resignation of several PCO leaders. Their demands include:

Appointing a Black Equity Commissioner to combat systemic anti-Black racism at all governmental levels, akin to the roles created to address Antisemitism and Islamophobia.

Forming a Department of African Canadian Affairs to focus on anti-Black racism.

Implementing promised amendments to the Employment Equity Act to include Black Canadians as an employment equity group.

Providing restitution to Black public sector employees who have filed a class action lawsuit over long-standing discrimination.

The Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) echoes these calls, pushing for a Black Equity Commissioner and the timely implementation of the Employment Equity Act amendments. They also demand compensation for Black workers who have suffered from the systemic discrimination documented in multiple federal reports.

Christian Fox, deputy clerk and associate secretary to the Cabinet at the PCO, and Thompson acknowledged the progress made since the report’s internal release. In September 2023, the PCO appointed its first chief diversity officer and established the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Anti-Racism (IDEA) Secretariat to spearhead these efforts. Meanwhile, in February, a coalition of Canadian human rights groups and unions lodged a formal complaint against the CHRC, accusing it of systemic discrimination. Source: HR Reporter