Employment equity would help

Page 5

An open letter to the premier of New Brunswick.

Dear Premier Theriault:

This open letter to you is my way of extending a helping hand to you in your present dilemma with respect to the Native people of New Brunswick.

I was in attendance at the meeting when you met with the chiefs of New Brunswick on Jan. 22, at the Beaverbrook Hotel. I heard you mention your embarrassment at the fact that there are less than 50 Native people presently employed by the provincial civil service, and that it has been this way for the past 50 years. So, why are the numbers so low? And why do they remain so low?

Speaking as a Native and former provincial civil servant who worked for 14 years with the Human Rights Commission, I can tell you that one of the main reasons the number of Natives employed by the civil service has been so low, and remains that way, is attitude. Besides, I was counted twice, once with the Human Rights Commission and again with the Department of Labor, and I doubt if my case was unique.

While I was with the Human Rights Commission, I often dealt with Native employment issues, so I have a great deal of first-hand knowledge in this area. In fact, part of my mandate at that time was to look at increasing the number of Native people employed with the civil service. After 14 years of effort, initiatives, programs, studies, surveys and recommendations, there was absolutely no progress made! What was the problem? The primary roadblock was the negative attitudes I personally encountered from provincial politicians, bureaucrats and civil servants.

One issue that was discussed at that time was employment equity legislation, but it was quickly shot down by the politicians. Today, I can still see how this kind of legislation, which would mean a commitment on the part of the government, could help a disadvantaged group like the one you cited.

In this province we have the Women's Directorate to address the employment inequities for women. We have the Official Languages Act to address the employment needs of the French population. But this is a piecemeal approach and it does not address all the needs, as you are well aware.

Why not enact provincial employment equity legislation that will address all the discrepancies? This would be an important first step to balancing the work-place playing-field for target group members. Other jurisdictions have such legislation. Why not New Brunswick?

Employment equity legislation would demonstrate to the target groups, including Native people, that your government is serious about doing something about the problem that has existed for so long, in spite of all the studies, programs and initiatives. This kind of commitment to change would precipitate a new (and much more positive) relationship between your government and the Native people. If you are serious about making things better for Natives, it would also make a difference to Native people to see the Native desk restaffed at the Human Rights Commission.

As the government party now in power you can make a difference. It would be much easier and quicker to enact employment equity legislation than to try to get an agreement from all of the concerned parties with respect to getting two seats in the legislative assembly for Natives. Employment equity legislation would make a positive difference.

Dan Ennis