Diversity Report Shows Government Making Progress

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The government of Nova Scotia is making good on its commitment to create a diverse workforce, which is representative of the province's diverse population.

Efforts to achieve that commitment are outlined in the province's report titled Moving Toward Equity, Affirmative Action and Diversity in the Nova Scotia Public Service 2005-06, which was tabled in the legislature today, Nov. 23, by the Ernest Fage, Minister of Human Resources.

"We know the more diverse Nova Scotia becomes, the stronger it becomes," said Mr. Fage. "With that in mind, we want to ensure when people look inside the public service, they see a workplace that is free of discrimination, where diversity is valued in all its forms, and where people respect and embrace differences. This will help establish the public service as a preferred employer and lead to better services for Nova Scotians."

The government is working on many fronts to encourage better representation among designated groups, which include Aboriginal people, persons with disabilities, African Nova Scotians and other racially visible people, and women in non-traditional or under-represented occupations.

As of March 31, 7.7 per cent of the Nova Scotia public service workforce self-identified as being a member of a designated group. This compares to 7.2 per cent reported in the 2004-05 progress report. The population of Nova Scotians who are members of a designated group and in the labour force is estimated at 11.7 per cent, according to 2001 Canadian census data.

The progress report also outlines corporate and departmental activities during 2005-06. Some examples of these activities include:

-- receiving updated three-year affirmative action plans for 2006-09 from 29 departments, agencies, boards and commissions;
-- filling 34 casual positions through the Diversity Talent Pool;
-- funding 20 positions across government through the Summer Diversity and Summer Female Mentorship programs;
-- approving $29,000 to purchase employment related supports for public servants with disabilities through the Diversity Accommodation Fund, with newly established guidelines;
--hiring a summer student through the Dalhousie Law School's Indigenous Blacks and Mi'kmaq Initiative at the Public Prosecution Service;
-- developing and pilot-testing a new survey tool to encourage employees to self-identify as a member of a designated group at the Public Service Commission;
-- purchasing diversity training for 250 staff at the departments of Natural Resources, Environment and Labour, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Energy;
-- continuing to identify diversity-related issues and opportunities across government through the Diversity Round Table.

"So far, we have experienced some success in our employment programs to attract people within the designated groups," said Mr. Fage. "But we know we can achieve much more, and I am looking forward to further progress in 2006-07."

A copy of the report can be accessed on the Public Service Commission's website at www.gov.ns.ca/psc .

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FOR BROADCAST USE:

     The government of Nova Scotia is making progress in creating

a diverse workforce.

     Human Resources Minister Ernest Fage tabled the province's

affirmative action and diversity progress report in the

legislature today (November 23rd).

     The report outlines a variety of employment programs that

aim to increase the representation of groups such as Aboriginal

people, persons with disabilities, African Nova Scotians and

other racially visible people, in the public service.

     The minister says by having a government that is

representative of Nova Scotia's diversity will result in better

services for communities and establish the public service as a

preferred employer.

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Media Contact: Michelle Lucas
              Public Service Commission
              902-424-7280
              E-mail: lucasmx@gov.ns.ca