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Employment Equity Act and Mandates

Employment equity encourages employers to take advantage of the knowledge and skills of all Canadians.

The Labour Program enforces and administers the Employment Equity Act. This section provides a brief history of the Act as well as information on other forms of legislation that fall under the Employment Equity Regulations and the Treasury Board Directives.

The purpose of the Act is to:

  • achieve equality in the workplace by removing barriers to employment for the designated groups (women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities);
  • correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment for the four designated groups; and
  • give effect to the principle that employment equity means more than treating people in the same way; it also requires special measures and the accommodation of differences.

The Act applies to parts of the federal public service, some Crown corporations, and private sector employers with over 100 employees.

A parliamentary review of the Employment Equity Act is conducted every five years to ensure that the Act stays relevant in achieving employment equity goals.

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Date Modified:
2011-10-25