ARCHIVED – Annual Report on the Operation of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act 2010-2011

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Part Four: Implementation of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act Across Federal Institutions 2010-11

Federal institutions across Canada vary in size and mandate. However, whether large or small, national in focus or regional in orientation, the spirit of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act is reflected in a variety of interesting and original ways in their mandates, policies, programs, employment and operating practices.

Under the Act, all federal government institutions are required to:

• ensure that Canadians of all origins have an equal opportunity to obtain employment and advancement in those institutions;
• promote policies, programs and practices that enhance the ability of individuals and communities of all origins to contribute to the continuing evolution of Canada;
• promote policies, programs and practices that enhance the understanding of and respect for the diversity of the members of Canadian society;
• collect statistical data to enable the development of policies, programs and practices that are sensitive and responsive to the multicultural reality of Canada;
• make use, as appropriate, of the language skills and cultural understanding of individuals of all origins; and
• generally carry on their activities in a manner that is sensitive and responsive to the multicultural reality of Canada.

In the development of this 2010–2011 annual report, 134 institutions provided submissions. From these, the Department of Citizenship and Immigration selected a range of examples to illustrate multiculturalism at work
in federal institutions. These examples are grouped thematically to best demonstrate the innovative and exciting ways in which federal institutions are working toward implementing the Act. Some of the major accomplishments of federal institutions that best exemplify the spirit of the Act are featured.

Over the reporting period, the Department observed that there were common themes in multiculturalism initiatives seen across multiple institutions. These activities have not been included in the following chapters, but rather are highlighted below.

• Providing services in non-official languages: a number of institutions implemented practices to leverage the language skills and cultural insights of staff who are versed in non-official languages.
• Providing information in non-official languages: many federal institutions are now providing information – such as audio guides, pamphlets and fact sheets – in non-official languages.
• Cultural awareness or diversity training: most federal institutions provide cultural awareness or diversity sensitivity training courses to their staff.
• Internship programs: some institutions implemented internship programs for different ethnocultural groups.
• Keeping staff informed about multiculturalism initiatives and important cultural days: many federal institutions make staff aware of upcoming religious holidays or other multicultural events through departmental messages.
• Providing space for religious practices: some institutions provide areas for prayer or quiet reflection for employees.

Challenges to the Implementation of the Act

While federal institutions highlighted a number of achievements during the reporting period, over 40 federal institutions identified barriers and challenges to carrying out multiculturalism activities.

Half of these institutions indicated that limited resources affected their ability to implement the Canadian Multiculturalism Act. The reasons provided included budget constraints, lack of dedicated staff to implement multiculturalism, and additional pressures brought on by staff turnover, reorganizations and other reporting requirements. Small institutions – with fewer than 500 employees – reported that dedicating resources to address multiculturalism was a significant challenge.

A number of institutions identified human resources issues in meeting obligations under the Act, including attracting Canadians from different ethnocultural backgrounds who qualify for positions, particularly in remote locations. Also, fewer staffing processes due to budgetary constraints limited opportunities to hire candidates from various cultural groups. Lack of data on religion, national or ethnic origin, race and colour posed a challenge when it came to assessing performance on equal opportunity in the workplace and ensuring that work forces reflect Canadian diversity.

Some institutions highlighted the overlap in reporting on other federal legislation and policies, including on employment equity, official languages, values and ethics, and departmental staffing accountability.

Institutions pointed out that their lack of knowledge about the requirements and definitions outlined in the Act hindered their ability to implement multiculturalism and that more support and guidance were needed. Also, certain existing policies acted as barriers, such as financial policies on honorariums and hospitality preventing Aboriginal elders from acting in the capacity of consultants regarding many operational, culturally sensitive and spiritual issues.

Very focused mandates and operational requirements posed challenges to implementing multiculturalism policies, programs and practices. For example, some institutions do not provide programs or services to the public, hence limiting the types of activities that could be undertaken. The geographical location of various operations posed a difficulty for incorporating cultural considerations into policies, such as remote communities where the number of ethnocultural community groups is not significant enough to create partnerships.

Partnerships

Partnerships between federal institutions or other organizations, governments and community groups, among others, are valuable and necessary in the context of multiculturalism, particularly in a challenging fiscal environment. Partnerships between organizations result in a greater mix of ideas being brought to the table, leading to better multiculturalism initiatives. Below are institutions that carried out multiculturalism initiatives in partnership with other organizations during the 2010–2011 reporting period.

In March 2011, the Canadian Embassy in Stockholm, part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, organized an event in cooperation with a Swedish think-tank to highlight the publication of a joint Canadian-Swedish document entitled The Canadian Model: How Immigration Leads to Work. Sweden’s Minister of Integration and Canadian Howard Duncan of the Metropolis Project both spoke at the seminar, which was attended by approximately 80 people from the Swedish government, businesses and NGOs. The event showcased the value of a Canadian multicultural society.

The Department of Justice administers the logistics and organization of a component of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) annual conference. In March 2011, the CACP, in collaboration with the Coalition on Community Safety, Health and Well-Being, held a national conference on family violence in Toronto. The conference – “A Dialogue on Family Violence in Culturally Diverse Communities: Practical Approaches to Prevention and Response” – was attended by representatives of justice, public health, education, immigration, victim services, culturally diverse communities and all levels of government.

Export Development Canada is continuing outreach initiatives with ethnocultural community organizations (Indo-Canadian Business Council, Chinese-Canadian Business Council, Nova Scotia Gambia Association, Halifax Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce), business associations specific to various regions of the world (Canadian Council for the Americas) and community organizations (Hire Immigrants Ottawa and Halifax’s Immigrant Settlement and Integration Services).

Peter Hall, Vice-President and Chief Economist of Export Development Canada, addresses members of the Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce. Photo courtesy of Export Development Canada.

The Business Development Bank of Canada’s (BDC) Vancouver branch has regular meetings with the Ethno Business Council of British Columbia to coordinate the annual New Canadian Awards that take place in May of every year. The Ethno Business Council comprises community leaders from different ethnic origins. The BDC has been involved with the creation of the Ethno Business Council and is one of the major sponsors of the annual awards, which are attended by over 300 people from the business community, politicians and other community influencers and leaders.

To create more awareness and increase traffic to the “Housing for Newcomers” microsite, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) continued its partnership with Service Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada and settlement organizations, as well as developing new relationships with many immigrant settlement organizations across Canada. This was achieved by incorporating content and links into their websites directing visitors back to CMHC’s newcomers microsite for more information, and supplying pamphlets and publications to their various locations for distribution to new Canadians.

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency continued to support exchanges and cooperation among diverse communities through engagement with those communities and their stakeholders on a number of significant activities, such as the establishment of the Africville Heritage Trust. This is a community-led organization that oversees the creation of a memorial to the former residents and descendants of the African Nova Scotian community of Africville.

“The diversity of language skills among Statistics Canada’s employees has also allowed the bureau’s regional offices to establish and maintain a rapport with ethnic media, who in turn present survey results in other languages, including, for example, Chinese, Spanish, Italian, Russian and Vietnamese.” Statistics Canada, 2010–2011 submission.

Promoting Intercultural Understanding and Embracing Diversity

In the 2010–2011 reporting period, many links were built or strengthened between ethnocultural communities and federal institutions.

The National Capital Commission received an excellent public response to its new sound and light show, “Mosaika: Canada Through the Eyes of Its People 2010–2014.” Mosaika reflects the cultural diversity as well as the language duality that makes up the fabric of Canada, featuring Canadians from every province and territory, and instils strong emotion and pride in its viewers. At the closing of its first season on September 13, 2010, Mosaika had been seen by 213,700 people. According to a recent Harris Decima survey, visitor feedback was extremely positive.

In 2010–2011, the Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food developed the Aboriginal Agriculture Initiative (AAI) from the Strategic Partnership Initiative developed under the Federal Framework for Aboriginal Economic Development. The initiative is based on a whole-of-government approach with participation from many organizations, including provincial governments. The three priority areas of the AAI are to work with Aboriginal youths in agriculture; build the agricultural capacity of Aboriginal producers; and support the innovation and competitiveness of Aboriginal businesses that are environmentally sustainable and viable in today’s marketplace. As part of the AAI, the Department has been working with Aboriginal agriculture clients to develop and implement federal pilot projects to increase economic development opportunities for Aboriginal communities and entrepreneurs, thereby contributing to the broader governmental objective of improving the socio-economic conditions of Aboriginal peoples.

The Canadian Human Rights Commission worked with six federal agencies to implement, as a pilot project, its Human Rights Maturity Model. The Model is designed to help employers create a self-sustaining human rights culture in the workplace. It will help foster a diverse and respectful workplace culture. For more information, visit www.chrc-ccdp.gc.ca.

An evening of sound and light on Parliament Hill: "Mosaika: Canada Through the Eyes of Its People," a visual wonder (Ottawa). Photo courtesy of the National Capital Commission.

At the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development, the Community Inclusion Initiative (CII) aims to promote the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in mainstream Canadian society by developing and implementing strategies to enable communities to become more inclusive of all members. Through the CII, the Alberta Association for Community Living established a successful partnership with families, the community, community agencies and the government to enable immigrant and refugee families to access the support and services they require. This enables them to raise children with intellectual disabilities at home, facilitates their inclusion into community life, and improves the quality and accessibility of inclusive education.

The Embassy of Canada in Bangkok, part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, supported two initiatives promoting understanding and tolerance between different ethnic and religious groups in Thailand. The projects were “The Art of Peace: A Theatre for Peace-Building and Conflict Transformation Training and Advocacy Program for Youth Leaders in the Deep South of Thailand” and the “Networking for Peace: A Youth Strategy for Peace-Building in the Deep South” project. Their objective was to promote interreligious and intercultural understanding among Muslim and Buddhist youths in the south of Thailand. The three southernmost provinces of Thailand are home to a Muslim minority and have been the site of an insurgency that has claimed the lives of more than 4,500 people since 2004.

The Honourable Peter Kent (left), Minister of the Environment and Minister Responsible for Parks Canada, commemorates the national historic significance of the founding of the Canadian Jewish Congress in the company of Mark Freiman, Canadian Jewish Congress National President (Montreal), March 2011. Photo courtesy of Parks Canada Agency.

The Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage (BCAH) program at the Department of Canadian Heritage provides grants and contributions for local arts and heritage events, such as festivals and commemorative activities that enrich local community life and give Canadians the opportunity to engage in their community. As part of its outreach strategy, the program ensures that the tools it creates for outreach purposes are available to all communities, including ethnocultural communities. In 2010–2011, the BCAH program supported 914 events in 561 communities across the country that celebrated and reflected Canada’s diverse cultural and historical heritage. BCAH funding in 2010–2011 also allowed for communities to commission art installations and to restore heritage buildings that commemorate important local events and people, including the commemoration of the first settlement of African-Canadians in Regina, Saskatchewan.

On March 14, 2011, the Honourable Peter Kent, Canada’s Environment Minister and Minister for Parks Canada, commemorated the importance of the founding of the Canadian Jewish Congress. A special ceremony was held at the Gelber Conference Centre in Montreal in the presence of the Honourable Larry Smith, Senator, with representatives from the city of Montreal and the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

At the Department of Justice, the Réseau de chercheures africaines conducted a project entitled “Pour une parenté responsable.” The project aims to offer workshops, information sessions and a reflection day to help young ethnic and racial minority Francophones experiencing the separation and divorce of their parents to learn about the family justice process and community resources available to them.

Status of Women Canada plays an important role in raising awareness of gender-based violence. In furthering this priority, the Minister for Status of Women sent out a strong message that harmful cultural practices that accept, condone or perpetuate violence against women and girls will not be tolerated in Canada. In July 2010, the Minister for Status of Women held round table consultations, urging women’s groups and community organizations to address violence against women and girls.

"Violence directed at women and girls, which may be viewed as culturally acceptable, has no place in Canadian society." -The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister for Status of Women, July 2010.

At the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development (HRSDC), the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) is currently funding 10 pan-Canadian projects that are increasing awareness of elder abuse in ethnocultural communities. In January 2011, HRSDC hosted a meeting of NHSP recipients of pan-Canadian elder abuse awareness project funding to encourage networking, the dissemination of project information, and a broader transfer or replication of best practices, including those that have had an impact in ethnocultural communities.

At the Department of Justice, the Access to Justice in Both Official Languages Support Fund has funded a project developed by the French Common Law Section of the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law aimed at helping Francophone immigrants from ethnocultural communities integrate into Canadian society. This pre-law program is intended for immigrant students registered in the French Common Law Program who have never studied in Canada. The purpose of the program is to give participating students a greater chance of success by giving them an opportunity to adapt to the realities of life at the university, informing them of the various tools available and providing them with an overview of course structure. The program takes a comparative look at some of the world’s major legal systems and the terminology of common law versus those of the legal systems in the students’ countries of origin.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade’s mission in Kuala Lumpur promotes education in Canada to Malaysian students and their families. In doing so, the mission emphasizes Canada’s multicultural and open society and promotes an organizational culture that embraces diversity. During the reporting period, the mission organized educational fairs that were accompanied by a media campaign in Malay, Chinese and English-language papers in each city. In attracting Malaysian students to Canada, the mission is helping to enrich the educational experience of Canadians by increasing diversity in our classrooms and campuses.

Educational fair in Kuala Lumpur. Photo courtesy of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

At the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the Canadian Diabetes Strategy Community-Based Program has identified ethnocultural communities as a priority target population. The PHAC in the Alberta/Northwest Territories Region is currently funding one diabetes project targeting ethnocultural communities and called “Culturally Responsive Diabetes Management Support: A Community-Based Model.” Although results are not yet available, the project’s initial goal is to establish effective diabetes prevention and control strategies targeted at ethnocultural communities, which involves raising awareness of diabetes and its risk factors. The project has been conducting several community consultations with five ethnocultural communities (South Asian, Chinese, East African, Spanish-speaking and Filipino) on diabetes risk factors, testing and management. The feedback gathered will help inform program design that is culturally sensitive and that builds on identified community assets.

At the Department of Human Resources and Skills Development, the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ASETS), launched in April 2010, is the successor strategy to the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy. ASETS expands the employment opportunities of Aboriginal people across Canada. Under this strategy, Aboriginal organizations design and deliver employment programs and services best suited to meet the unique needs of their communities. Through ASETS, programs are designed and delivered by Aboriginal organizations to help Aboriginal people prepare for, obtain and maintain sustainable employment, assist Aboriginal youths in transitioning from school to work or to return to school, assist Aboriginal people living with disabilities, and support child-care programs. All Aboriginal people, regardless of status or location, may access programs and services.

At the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, in January 2011, all four Egyptian Coptic Christian churches in the Greater Montreal area were visited after Internet threats were made on Coptic leaders around the world, including in Montreal. In addition, a meeting of Egyptian Muslims and Coptic Christian leaders was organized to determine how to best support the Coptic community in Montreal following the New Year’s Day attack in Egypt.

Stirling Agricultural Village National Historic Site of Canada (Alberta). Photo courtesy of Parks Canada Agency.

At the Department of Justice, funding was provided to the YWCA of British Columbia to conduct a project entitled “Custody and Access for Mothers Leaving Abusive Relationships.” The project includes updating and distributing a booklet entitled Leaving an Abusive Relationship: Information on Custody and Access for Women with Children. Translations in several languages, including French, Tagalog, Japanese and Russian, will be made available online, therefore addressing the information needs of those communities that face barriers in accessing the family justice system.

At the Department of Public Works and Government Services, the Advertising Coordination and Partnerships Directorate’s Capacity Building Program provides information and training sessions on advertising and marketing-related topics, including two sessions specifically on multiculturalism. These sessions, one addressing cultural and racial diversity and the second dealing with diversity in Canada, were presented to the Government of Canada communications and marketing community by 18 federal departments and agencies.

Under the Parks Canada National Historic Sites Cost-Sharing Program, four National Historic Sites of Canada (NHSC) associated with the history of ethnocultural communities in Canada received funding, including Neubergthal Street Village NHSC, a living illustration of a Mennonite village on the Canadian Prairies; the Little Dutch (Deutsch) Church NHSC, which many recognize as the oldest Lutheran church building in Canada; St. Patrick’s Basilica NHSC, a church located in a busy commercial sector of downtown Montreal that became the heart of the Irish community in Montreal; and Stirling Agricultural Village (Michelsen Historic Farmstead) NHSC, the best surviving example of a Mormon agricultural village.

The Online Learning Toolkit is a Library and Archives Canada (LAC) initiative that focuses on immigration to Canada. Immigrant multicultural groups were chosen to highlight the diverse nature of Canadian society. The tool kits are comprised of LAC material such as documents, photographs, art, maps, etc., and provide a “window” into the collection for anyone wishing to learn about the history of Canadian immigration. A pilot project is under way to determine how kits can be delivered online to provide access to all Canadians. LAC will be working in collaboration with cultural communities and associations to ensure that these online resources respond to the needs of diverse communities in Canada. This initiative contributes to the promotion of Canadian multiculturalism.

Expansion of the Multicultural Helping House (Vancouver). Photo courtesy of Infrastructure Canada.

At Canada Post, a new practice was instituted called “Accommodating Requests Related to Religion.” The practice was developed as a result of Canada Post’s diverse work force and the need to be respectful of individuals’ religious practices and allow for full participation and equal opportunity in the workplace. The practice provides team leaders and employees with guidelines for accommodation. Examples of potential religious accommodations are listed in the practice, under titles such as “prayer requests,” “religious holidays,” “dress or appearance requirements” and “practices on premises,” which includes prayer rooms or spaces.

At the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, following the arrest of individuals under the Anti-Terrorism Act in Ottawa in August 2010, a meeting was arranged with the Montreal Police Arab Focus Group for the purpose of advising Arab community leaders of the arrests and their implications. Community leaders had concerns regarding how the media would portray them as a whole. An overview of the facts in the case, as reported to the media, was revised and discussed during this meeting, with an emphasis on giving accurate information to the community leaders.

Nova Bhattacharya, Ipsita Nova Dance Projects. Photo by John Lauener.

Infrastructure Canada funds projects that result in better public infrastructure, including ones that help promote and enhance multiculturalism. In 2010–2011, the Department contributed toward projects, including essential renovations at the Multicultural Helping House Society in Vancouver and the Bruyère Centre for Immigrants in Ottawa, as well as the Winnipeg Chinese Cultural and Community Centre and the Musée acadien du Québec in Bonaventure.

The National Arts Centre continues to promote multiculturalism by producing and presenting shows that reflect Canada’s cultural diversity. The biennial Canada Dance Festival, co-produced by the National Arts Centre in June 2010, is a celebration of Canadian contemporary dance as diverse and unique as the country itself. The 30 performances by renowned and emerging dancers, choreographers, companies and composers included, among many others, Vancouver’s Wen Wei Dance with dancers from the Beijing Modern Dance Company, the Coyote Arts Percussive Performance Association featuring Byron Chief Moon, Sinha Danse, Sampradaya/Sampad, the COBA/Collective of Black Artists, and Nova Bhattacharya.

Public Education and Outreach Activities

In the continuing evolution of Canadian society, public education and outreach activities are undertaken by federal institutions to reinforce and increase the participation of all Canadians in diverse communities across this country. Outreach and educational activities, such as advertising or communications in non-official languages, are among the initiatives that were undertaken by federal institutions in the past year. These serve not only to disseminate information and to raise awareness of issues, but also to celebrate multiculturalism in Canada.

The National Film Board (NFB) launched Glimpses/Impressions at the Canada Pavilion during the 2010 World Exposition in Shanghai. Glimpses/Impressions, whose theme is “The Living City: Inclusive, Sustainable, Creative,” showcased Canada’s diverse, bilingual and multicultural society to the world, giving both Chinese and international audiences the opportunity to experience life in Canadian cities. A five-minute film, Glimpses: A Human View of the Living City, directed by Jean-Francois Pouliot, was the key component of the NFB’s contribution to this exhibition. Depicting 24 hours in the life of an imagined composite city that draws on all Canadian cities, Glimpses was viewed by millions of visitors at Expo and is now available for viewing online at www.nfb.ca/expo-2010-shanghai.

The Public Health Agency of Canada funded a project with the Canadian Ethnocultural Council to develop culturally appropriate hepatitis C information modules for community care, health and social service providers who work in ethnocultural communities where hepatitis C prevalence rates have been identified as high in their country of origin and further confirmed in Canada. The project results are conclusive and indicate increased knowledge of and awareness levels about hepatitis C in vulnerable ethnocultural communities and enhanced access to culturally appropriate health information and services.

The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces implemented a new youth program abroad for males aged 15 to 25. A program first implemented by American forces in Iraq gave the Canadian Forces an idea for a community outreach program, and the Culturally Structured Youth Employment Program (CSYEP) was born. The announcement of its launch excited the maliks (leaders) of three villages — Belanday, New Mashor and Zor Mashor — because it meant that 10 workers and one supervisor in each village would be hired to work with the local civic leaders, cultural mentors and representatives of the Canadian Forces. Each CSYEP team works in its own village to identify projects that either benefit the entire community or that focus on its poorest segment. For more information, visit www.forces.gc.ca.

Black Canadian soldiers during the Second World War. Photo courtesy of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Western Economic Diversification Canada committed $333,000 to the Spo7ez Cultural Centre and Community Society to aid in the completion of the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in British Columbia. Western Diversification’s contributions enabled the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations to build intercultural understanding and respect for Canada’s diversity. Highlights of the project include the installation of a central showcase of Squamish Lil’wat cultural artifacts, traditional works of art and interactive story telling. Upon completion, the Centre will be positioned as an international tourist destination and one of the finest Aboriginal cultural tourism venues in Canada by showcasing the history and culture of the Squamish and Lil’wat First Nations. The Centre is part of a comprehensive program developed to provide economic stimulus to surrounding communities, creating or maintaining 64 jobs directly, and creating, maintaining or expanding 61 businesses. For more information, visit www.wd.gc.ca/eng/77_12753.asp.

The “Canada Remembers” section of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VAC) website continued to add components that further advanced the goal of engaging all Canadians in the commemoration of Canadian veterans and military history. In 2010–2011, the features “Black Canadians in Uniform – A Proud Tradition” and “Aboriginal-Canadian Veterans” were added to the VAC website. “Black Canadians in Uniform – A Proud Tradition” provides an overview of the military contribution of black Canadians from the days before Canada was even a country of its own, to the current efforts in Afghanistan; and “Aboriginal-Canadian Veterans” includes various components focusing on Aboriginal Canadian military history, remembrance and a new learning module. For further information, visit www.veterans.gc.ca.

The goal of the Public Health Agency of Canada’s National HIV/AIDS Voluntary Sector Response Fund is to enhance and sustain an effective voluntary sector response to HIV/AIDS in Canada. It provides funding in recognition of the strong role the voluntary sector continues to play in responding to HIV/AIDS in Canada. In 2010–2011, this fund provided support to the Interagency Coalition on AIDS and Development (ICAD) and the Canadian AIDS Society to work with affected communities, both on a national and international level. Together, they have produced a body of resource materials relevant to the community while working with several ethnocultural partners across Canada to build and maintain national networks of organizations working with affected communities. ICAD was also funded to represent these ethnocultural organizations at a national level to enhance domestic programs through greater exposure to international models of best practices.

The Department of Justice led a Canada-wide Victims of Crime television and newspaper advertising campaign accompanied by a Web portal (www.victimsmatter.gc.ca). The portal was designed to provide users with access to information about federal, provincial and territorial services and information relevant to victims of crimes, including hate crimes. Hate crimes typically target groups of people based on race, ethnic or national origin, sexual orientation, gender, mental or physical disability, age, religion or any other similar identifying factor. The Victims Matter Web portal includes a Web page dedicated to providing information to victims of hate crimes. Actors from various visible minority groups appeared in television and newspaper ads and on the website.

At the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the National Youth Services (NYS) Engagement Team consulted with its National Youth Advisory Committee and discussed issues of discrimination and racism. As a result, the NYS revised and updated its fact sheets on discrimination and racism for a national youth audience. The fact sheets are posted on the RCMP’s website for youths at www.deal.org. Additional articles and fact sheets were produced that provided information on how youths can be engaged in dealing with discrimination and racism. Also, in addition to updating the deal.org fact sheets, various blogs were written and posted on the deal.org website throughout 2010–2011, including “Celebrate Our Cultures: Far and Wide” and “Colourless.”

“Responsible Citizenship and Canada’s Tax System,” an interactive educator-led learning unit at the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), was developed to teach Canada’s tax system fundamentals to secondary and post-secondary students and raise their awareness of the pivotal role Canada’s tax system plays in the quality of life of Canadians. The CRA has upgraded this program by extending its early audience to include ethnocultural groups. The CRA has actively sought partnerships with multicultural and community organizations, and local CRA representatives offer to assist educators and organizations with the presentation of the educational material.

A Diverse and Responsive Work Force

This section highlights activities undertaken by federal institutions to reflect Canada’s multicultural reality in their human resources programs, policies and practices, and to create a responsive and representative work force.

At Export Development Canada (EDC), the Newcomer Work Experience Program (NWEP) was launched in the fall of 2010. The NWEP is an innovative pilot program that offered eight-month contract placements to four recent Canadian immigrants in one of four different groups – International Business Development, Business Solutions and Technology, Human Resources and Finance – depending on their skill set. Under NWEP, newcomers gain professional work experience in their field, and EDC benefits from their unique international skills and experience.

Aboriginal Pre-Recruit Training Course candidate Connor Longjohn (centre), Chief Petty Officer First Class Jeffery S. Morrison (left), and a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, salute during Remembrance Day ceremonies at Millbrook First Nation (Truro, Nova Scotia), November 2010. Photo courtesy of the Department of National Defence.

Canada Post incorporated multiculturalism and diversity elements into training courses developed in 2010. As an employer of approximately 70,000 employees, Canada Post strives to reflect the Canadian population, which impacts programs being developed that are geared toward employees who identify as LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgendered). In coordination with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Canada Post has developed a new employee orientation program with specific sections on human rights and dedicated sections on sexual orientation and gender identity. Last year, a new section on “Understanding Transgenderism” was added to an existing sexual harassment module.

In 2010, for the first time, the Canadian Forces base in Halifax hosted the Aboriginal Pre-Recruit Training Course on the East Coast. As a result, 27 of the 28 candidates opted to join the Canadian Forces. Successes like this are a testament to the Department of National Defence’s ongoing commitment to creating an inclusive, barrier-free and accommodating work environment.

During Black History Month in February 2011, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS) celebrated the contributions that the black community has made to our history and identity. TBS received distinguished guests such as Senator Donald H. Oliver, who gave a talk on “Diversity Today: Big Hopes for the Future,” and CBC journalist Adrian Harewood, who recounted the personal stories of several pioneers in the fight for equality for black citizens in society.

“The Canadian Forces are one of Canada’s most important and recognized national institutions, which strive to be reflective of Canada’s cultural, ethnic and linguistic makeup, as well as its regional diversity. It is also an all-volunteer force, drawn directly from the Canadian population it serves. Its members, male or female, regardless of race, religion or culture, share the same goal of protecting the country, its interests and values, while contributing to international peace and security.” Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces, 2010–2011 submission.

Research and Dissemination Activities

The Honourable Senator Donald Oliver presents on diversity in Canada and the public service to kick off Black History Month (Ottawa), February 2011. Photo courtesy of the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat.

This section highlights multiculturalism research and data collection during the reporting period.

Statistics Canada carried out a number of projects that promoted the understanding of multiculturalism in Canada. Some key research initiatives focused on the recognition of newcomers’ foreign credentials and work experience; the recent evolution of immigrant-language transmission; a series of profiles on official language minorities in Canada (e.g., Francophones in Ontario, British Columbia and the Territories and Anglophones in Quebec); and labour market outcomes of Canadian-born children of immigrants and immigrants who came at young ages.

The Canadian Forces (CF) conducted Phase I of a multi-year research project that examined various military factors that may encourage or dissuade members of specific cultural groups from joining the CF. Phase I focused on Chinese-Canadians. Findings will be analysed to make recommendations for increasing representation of this group. Subsequent phases of the research will focus on different cultural groups.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation conducted a research project on housing finance that used key informants from ethnocultural communities to capture their perspectives and experiences in seeking and obtaining mortgage financing in various Canadian locations.

The Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec has written a study paper that includes a proposal for action on the application of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act in the implementation of its programs. The purpose of the paper is to determine how the Agency could improve cultural communities’ access to its various programs and services. The Agency is working on an action plan to increase newcomers’ participation in the economic development of Quebec’s regions by 2013. Implementation will begin in 2011–2012.

The Department of Canadian Heritage Canadian Studies Program supported research and the coordination of the Association for Canadian Studies publication entitled Canadian Issues/Thèmes canadiens, which featured several thematic articles pertinent to the social and integration aspects of diversity in Canada, such as Temporary Foreign Workers (Spring 2010), Immigrant Mental Health (Summer 2010), Newcomers’ Experiences of Housing and Homelessness in Canada (Fall 2010); and Canada’s Diverse Histories (Winter 2010).

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