Auditor general to study hiring, promotion of public servants with disabilities
Documents obtained by The Canadian Press through Access to Information indicate that the audit is expected to be tabled in the spring.
Claire Baudry, a spokesperson for the Office of the Auditor General of Canada, said in an email that while auditor general Karen Hogan expects to table the report in Parliament in 2026, the audit is in the planning phase and any comment on its scope or timelines now would be 'premature.'
Hogan's office sent a letter to Secretary of the Treasury Board Bill Matthews on March 7 notifying him of the upcoming study.
The most recent employment equity report for the public service says that since March 2020, the number of people with disabilities has increased steadily in the core public service — the federal government departments and agencies that fall under Treasury Board.
Story continues below advertisement
But that number remains below the rate of 'workforce availability' — the metric used by the government to measure the share of the national workforce that is eligible for federal public service work.
Get daily National news
Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
As of 2024, 21,089 people with disabilities were working in the federal public service, up from 17,410 in 2023, 14,573 in 2022 and 12,893 in 2021.
The report also found that representation of people with disabilities among government executives was above the rate of workforce availability. As of March 2024, 9.7 per cent of federal executives were people with disabilities, up from 4.6 per cent in March 2019.
The employment equity report also looked at promotions in the core public service. It found that 2,517 federal public servants with disabilities were promoted in 2024.
The report also tracked 1,642 promotions of Indigenous public servants, 1,788 promotions of Black employees, 8,115 promotions of members of visible minorities and 19,578 promotions of women in the core public service.
Nathan Prier, president of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees, said he hopes the report will take into account the impact of the government's return-to-office mandate on people with disabilities.
The government has gradually increased the number of days public servants must be in the office since the end of the pandemic. As of last fall, most public servants are expected to work in-office at least three days per week, while executives are required to be there at least four days per week.
Story continues below advertisement
'We hope to see from the report a snapshot before and after the forced return to office took place to see how many workers with disabilities are leaving the federal public sector and taking their expertise with them, while other workers struggle with increasing workload and now cuts — all when we had an easy and workable solution in front of us this whole time,' Prier said.
'During the pandemic we saw on a large scale how telework worked well for so many workers with disabilities, and we've been disappointed to see that, since the forced and mismanaged return to office, those same people have not been getting accommodations or have been made to jump through hoops in a long, drawn-out process,' he said.
Rola Salem, a spokesperson for the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, said in an email that the Government of Canada has committed to building an accessible and inclusive public service and, in 2024, exceeded its goal of hiring 5,000 people with disabilities.
Salem said the secretariat welcomes the opportunity to work with the Office of the Auditor General on the planned audit.
The Employment Equity Act defines 'persons with disabilities' as people who have a long-term or recurring physical, mental, sensory, psychiatric or learning impairment and who consider themselves to be disadvantaged in employment or believe that an employer is likely to consider them disadvantaged.
The definition also includes people whose limitations have been accommodated in the workplace.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
3 hours ago
- Global News
Thailand, Cambodia ceasefire appears to hold as villagers return home
A ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia appeared to hold Tuesday as tensions lingered despite a truce agreement to end deadly border clashes following economic pressure from the U.S. The ceasefire that was reached in Malaysia was supposed to take effect at midnight, but was quickly tested. The Thai army accused Cambodia of launching attacks in multiple areas early Tuesday but Cambodia said there was no firing in any location. The Thai army later said fighting has stopped after military commanders along the border from both sides met. They agreed to halt troop movements, avoid escalation and establish coordination teams ahead of a joint border committee meeting in Cambodia on Aug. 4, army spokesman Major Gen. Winthai Suvaree said. Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Seiha said he spoke to his Thai counterpart about 'incidents' that occurred during the implementation of the ceasefire but stressed the Cambodian army abided by the truce. He said Cambodian defense officials will lead a delegation of diplomats, foreign military attachés and others to observe the situation. Story continues below advertisement The Thai government separately said it has lodged complaints to Malaysia, the U.S. and China about Cambodia's alleged breach of the ceasefire agreement. Along the border, there were signs of calm with some of the more than 260,000 people displaced by the fighting returning to their homes. The agreement was made under U.S. pressure Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai had agreed Monday to an 'unconditional' halt in fighting that have killed at least 41 people. The meeting was hosted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim as annual chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. He called the ceasefire a 'vital first step towards de-escalation and the restoration of peace and security.' Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. applauded the ceasefire declaration. 'President (Donald) Trump and I are committed to an immediate cessation of violence and expect the governments of Cambodia and Thailand to fully honor their commitments to end this conflict,' Rubio said in a statement. Story continues below advertisement 2:56 Thailand-Cambodia conflict: Leaders to meet in Malaysia to discuss end to border dispute Hun Manet said Tuesday that Trump had called to offer congratulations for the peace move. He posted on social media that Trump pledged the U.S. would join the monitoring process along with Malaysia to ensure the ceasefire is implemented. Trump also called Phumtham after his return to Bangkok. Phumtham said Trump told him that Thailand's talks with Washington to negotiate tariff levels on Thai exports could now proceed and that he would seek to make them as favorable as possible. The ceasefire comes days before the U.S. is expected to announce new trade tariff decisions. Cambodia and Thailand have both been two of the hardest-hit countries as a result of Trump's trade war, with 36% tariff on goods from both countries taking effect this coming Friday. Trump had warned that the U.S. might not proceed with trade deals with either country if hostilities continued, giving both sides a face-saving justification for halting the clashes. Story continues below advertisement Residents along the long-disputed border are wary Cambodia and Thailand have clashed in the past over their 800-kilometer (500-mile) border. The fighting began Thursday after a land mine explosion along the border wounded five Thai soldiers. Tensions had been growing since May when a Cambodian soldier was killed in a confrontation that created a diplomatic rift and roiled Thailand's domestic politics. Residents on both sides of the border expressed relief about the ceasefire but remained wary, unsure how long the peace would last. 'I am very concerned that new fighting may break out. Thailand often provokes the fighting first, but then accuses Cambodia. Their aims is that they want to occupy our temples (along the border). I really don't want to see any new fighting happen.' said Soklang Slay, as he helped his daughter move back into her home in Cambodia's Oddar Meanchay province, where heavy fighting had occurred. Story continues below advertisement Soklang Slay and his family dug a bunker to shield themselves from artillery when fighting started but fled on the second day when bombings intensified. 2:00 Trump urges ceasefire as Thailand-Cambodia conflict continues In Thailand's Surin province, village chief Kritsada Jindasri said he heard heavy firing and explosions Monday night before silence fell at midnight. 'We are still cautious. We still don't totally believe (that it would stop). We still wait to assess the situation,' said Kitsada, who had stayed back along with 60 other community leaders after some 400 villagers evacuated last week. His brother, Jirayu Jindasri, returned home after seeking refuge with relatives. 'I still don't feel comfortable, because they just announced it for the first day. I'm not confident. If it breaks out again, I'll have to go,' he said. Analysts said the ceasefire remains tenuous and politically complicated. Story continues below advertisement Kokthay Eng, a Cambodian researcher in history, politics, and international relations, said Trump's 'trade leverage and strongman mentality have helped save Thai and Cambodian people from further bloodshed.' But he warned that the ceasefire may not last if the Thai government fails to secure lower U.S. tariffs. 'It is risky and will require clear markers to build traction,' said Southeast Asian political expert Bridget Welsh. 'A proper border survey should begin immediately. Right now, it's on pause because the roots of the conflict have yet to be addressed.' —Sopheng Cheang reported from Samrong, Cambodia. Associated Press writer Eileen Ng in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul and Grant Peck in Bangkok, and Anton L. Delgado in Samrong contributed to this report.
Calgary Herald
3 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
Federal liberals in ‘honeymoon' with Alberta — for now
Mark Carney's liberal government is still enjoying a 'honeymoon' with Alberta's business community, but industry groups warn the clock is ticking for the prime minister to back his words up with action. Article content Executives in the oil and gas industry are waiting to find out if the Carney government will fast-track a new pipeline as part of its nation-building agenda. Article content Article content Until they get that clarity, they are still dealing with significant policy uncertainty from Ottawa, according to the Business Council of Alberta, which outlined potential actions to improve investment in a recent report. Article content Article content 'There (are) still lots of concerns and lots of issues to deal with, but there's more reason to be hopeful now than we've seen in a long time,' said Mike Holden, the council's chief economist. Article content A federal bill that would speed up natural resource and infrastructure projects that are deemed in the national interest has drawn cautious optimism from the energy sector, amid concerns from Indigenous peoples and environmental groups. Article content In its wish list for Ottawa, Holden's group wants the government to repeal or reform policies that have held back investment in the oilpatch, including a tanker ban on the West Coast and a proposed oil and gas emissions cap. Article content Article content However, there is hope among many businesses that Ottawa could fast-track major projects — namely pipelines — by overriding some of these controversial policies. Article content Article content 'I think this is the honeymoon with Carney,' Holden said. Article content Industry and the federal government are having important discussions about increasing Canada's ability to export and develop natural resources, according to Deborah Yedlin, chief executive of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce. Article content 'There's a sense of optimism that I have not sensed from an energy standpoint in 10 years,' Yedlin said. Article content Federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson has met regularly with those in the energy sector since he was sworn in, she said.
Global News
5 hours ago
- Global News
Africville descendants show support for longtime protester Eddie Carvery
Former Africville residents and their descendants are rallying behind longtime protester Eddie Carvery. Carvery's grandson, Eddie Carvery III, says watching his grandfather get threatened with eviction after living on the old Africville site for years is frustrating. 'I can't find the words to justify how I feel because I saw my grandfather and I've only seen him defeated like that one time before, and that's when his other protest site was demolished after he had a major heart attack,' he said. 'Why come for this man when he's at his lowest? It shouldn't be, right? It's heartbreaking.' The elder Carvery has been protesting on the site where the community used to stand since 1970, and has been issued various eviction notices during his time. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Most recently, he was issued a parking ticket on July 14 after the Africville Museum requested it be issued — saying his trailer has been on their property for four years. Story continues below advertisement Carvery III says it's really impacted his grandfather, especially given his recent medical diagnosis. 'That's very sad for somebody who spent 50 plus years by himself fighting for the people,' he said. 'It's like he was defeated.' While it's only a parking ticket, for the organizer of Monday's rally, there's more to it. 'Essentially, it is an eviction notice, although a lot of people will tell you that it's semantics,' said Stephanie Daye, an elder and land rights advocate. 'But I think that it was a very sneaky and underhanded way to address what they see as a problem.' As of Monday morning, the municipality cancelled the ticket and informed the museum it was working on letting Carvery know. A spokesperson for Halifax Regional Municipality told Global News that due to a lack of identification number and inspection sticker, the trailer could not legally be tied to Carvery. As for Carvery, he says he's determined to keep fighting for Africville. 'I'm here. I'm not going to quit,' he said, adding he's looking for reparations and the land of Africville to be returned to the community. Story continues below advertisement 'I'm not going away. And I'm not going to allow them to take my shell. Providing they do that, they're going to have to put me in jail.' The Africville Museum did not respond to Global News' request for comment by deadline. For more on this story, watch the video above.
