Government of Canada recognizes employers at the inaugural Employment Equity Achievement Awards

WINNIPEG, MB, April 1, 2016 /CNW/ - On April 1, 2016, 32 employers were recognized for outstanding achievement in employment equity in their workplaces. The Honourable MaryAnn Mihychuk, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, and several Members of Parliament presented recipients with awards at one of four Employment Equity Achievement Awards events held in Winnipeg, Vancouver, Toronto and Montréal.

These awards recognize federally regulated private-sector employers for their commitment to creating diverse and inclusive Canadian workplaces. They also provide a forum for showcasing and sharing best practices in implementing employment equity.

The Minister highlighted the Government of Canada's commitment to continue to work with federally regulated employers to make more progress on equity and inclusion by introducing a Canadians with disabilities act; renewing its nation-to-nation relationship with Indigenous peoples; and through merit-based appointments, helping to ensure gender parity and better representation of Indigenous Canadians and minority groups in leadership positions.

Quick Facts

• The Legislated Employment Equity Program applies to federally regulated private-sector employers, Crown corporations and other federal organizations that have 100 or more employees, the federal public sector, and provincially regulated private-sector organizations with at least 100 employees in Canada that receive federal government contracts worth $1 million or more.
• Under the Legislated Employment Equity Program, approximately 500 private-sector employers, 30 Crown corporations and 5 other federal organizations have a combined workforce of over 740,000.
• There are four designated groups under the Employment Equity Act: women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minority groups.

Quote

"Employment equity is good for business. In a competitive global market, workplace diversity and inclusion provide opportunities to capitalize on the unique talents and contributions that diverse communities offer. Reflecting the rich diversity of our society in our federal workplaces is essential to growing our country's economy and strengthening the middle class."
– The Honourable MaryAnn Mihychuk, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour

Associated Link

http://www.esdc.gc.ca/en/jobs/workplace/human_rights/employment_equity/index.page

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backgrounder

Four half-day Employment Equity Achievement Awards (EEAA) events took place on April 1 across Canada to recognize federally regulated private-sector employers for their efforts in implementing employment equity in their workplaces, selected from the following sectors:

• Banking
• Communications
• Transportation
• Other

Recipients and categories presentations

In Winnipeg, the Honourable MaryAnn Mihychuk, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour presented awards to the following recipients:

Outstanding Commitment

• Cargill Limited

Sector Distinction

• Canadian Museum for Human Rights
• Freshwater Fish Marketing Corporation
• Jim Pattison Broadcast Group

Improved Representation

• Jim Pattison Broadcast Group

In Vancouver, Dr. Hedy Fry, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre, presented the following awards:

Outstanding Commitment

• HSBC Bank Canada

Sector Distinction

• Cathay Pacific Airways Limited
• HSBC Bank Canada
• Vancouver Fraser Port Authority

Improved Representation

• Canadian Western Bank
• Ledcor Group of Companies
• Securiguard Services Limited
• Tenold Transportation LP

In Toronto, Julie Dzerowicz, Member of Parliament for Davenport, presented the following awards:

Outstanding Commitment

• Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
• The Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank)
• The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD Bank)

Sector Distinction

• Accessible Media Inc. (AMI)
• Aircraft Service International Group Canada Ltd. (ASIG)
• American Airlines
• Primus Telecommunications Canada Inc. (regrets)¹
• Symcor Inc.
• The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD Bank)

Improved Representation

• Air Georgian Limited
• ATCO Structures and Logistics
• Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB)
• DHL Express (Canada) Ltd.
• ICICI Bank Canada
• Manulife Bank

In Montreal, Pablo Rodriguez, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities and Member of Parliament for Honoré-Mercier, presented the following awards:

Outstanding Commitment

• Banque de développement du Canada (Business Development Bank of Canada)
• Canadian National Railway (CN)
• Cogeco Connexion

Sector Distinction

• Hapag-Lloyd (Canada) Inc.
• National Capital Commission (NCC)

Improved Representation

• V Interactions Inc. (regrets)²

Innovation

• Groupe Trans-West Inc.

______________________

¹ Primus Telecommunications Canada Inc. was unable to attend the event. The EEAA certificate was mailed directly to the company.  

² V Interactions Inc. was unable to attend the event. The EEAA certificate was mailed directly to the company.

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

Contacts: John O'Leary, Director of Communications, Office of the Hon. MaryAnn Mihychuk, P.C., M.P., Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, 819-654-5611, [email protected]; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]