Preventing Discrimination

Précis of April, June, and Septemper 2006
Meetings of the Employer Advisory Council (EAC)

When the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) launched its Discrimination Prevention Program in April 2004, its primary aim was to increase opportunities for complainants and respondents to confront and deal with discriminatory behaviour in the workplace and resolve complaints effectively and quickly. Still relatively new, the Discrimination Prevention Program is achieving great success in building cooperative, mutually beneficial relationships between the CHRC and federally regulated employers and service providers, and in establishing a network of like-minded organizations.

The latest development is the creation of the Employer Advisory Council (EAC). Since April 2006, representatives of eight employers and service providers and the CHRC came together for three meetings of the EAC. Simply put, the purpose of the EAC is to provide a forum for raising, examining, discussing and acting on issues related to the prevention of discrimination in workplaces and service centres across Canada. Under the CHRC’s direction, the Council also serves as a means for its diverse membership to share prevention-related best practices, tools and resources. Terms of Reference for the EAC have been established and quarterly meetings are scheduled.

The current EAC members are as follows (in alphabetical order):

• Canada Border Services Agency
• Canada Post Corporation
• Canadian Forces
• Canadian Pacific Railway
• National Bank of Canada
• Penauille Servisair Inc.
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police
• WestJet Airlines

More members are expected to join as the CHRC’s Discrimination Prevention Program expands.

To date, a working group on accommodation issues has begun to meet and a network of human rights learning specialists is being considered. In addition, best practices from various EAC member organizations and information on the new CHRC employment equity audit process have been shared. Members are also exploring program evaluation methods to ensure that discrimination is truly being prevented.

Stay tuned for more updates following each EAC meeting.