A strategy designed to ensure that the governmentB次元官网网址檚 workforce reflects B.C.B次元官网网址檚 population runs the risk of failing.
That is the conclusion emerging from an audit of the diversity and inclusion strategy, which the Public Service Agency launched in 2021.
B次元官网网址淒iversity and inclusion have real meaning and value to people,B次元官网网址� Michael Pickup, B.C.B次元官网网址檚 auditor general said, when he presented his findings earlier this month at the provincial legislature.
B次元官网网址淓veryone in B.C. should see themselves reflected in the public service.B次元官网网址�
However, available B.C. statistics from 2020 show that may not be the case.
While Indigenous People make up 5.6 per cent of the available workforce, they make up 4.6 per cent of the public service sector.
Meanwhile, racialized people account for 30.3 per cent of the provincial population but are underrepresented at 20.5 per cent of government agency workers.
People with disabilities represent 11 per cent of B.C.B次元官网网址檚 workforce and almost 25 per cent of the population, but make up less than seven per cent of the public sector.
PSA launched the three-year-long strategy titled Where We All Belong in March 2021 to ensure the public service reflects the B.C. population and is inclusive.
PickupB次元官网网址檚 office audited the strategyB次元官网网址檚 governance from Jan. 1, 2018 to Nov. 4, 2022, with the intention of determing if the PSA had created robust structures to support the strategy.
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B次元官网网址淲e found there were some important elements missing that, if in place, would give the strategy a better chance of achieving its important goals for diversity and inclusion,B次元官网网址� Pickup said.
Missing elements include data analysis and specific targets for recruitment, according to the audit.
B次元官网网址淭hese missing aspects matter when the work is spread across a large workforce that is divided among multiple ministries,B次元官网网址� Pickup said. B次元官网网址淣ot having these supports in place doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean necessarily that the work isnB次元官网网址檛 happening, but it could mean that it is not happening consistently or that work wonB次元官网网址檛 be complete before the strategy ends in 2024.B次元官网网址�
The report made seven recommendations B次元官网网址� all of which the PSA has accepted B次元官网网址� including the development of recruitment targets.
B次元官网网址淭his is an important topic for everyone and itB次元官网网址檚 close to my heart on a personal and professional level as the first Indigenous auditor-general in Canada and the first auditor-general from the LGBTQ2S+ community,B次元官网网址� Pickup said.
wolfgang.depner@blackpress.ca
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