Michigan State University Extension
Diversity and Pluralism - 02140062
12/95/
ERIC TITLE NUMBER: ED321936 AUTHOR: Falardeau Ramsay, Michelle
TITLE: The Canadian Human Rights Commission and Issues of
Concern for Aboriginal Women. Notes for Remarks, by the
Deputy Chief Commissioner.
YEAR PUBLISHED: 1989
NOTE: 43 p.; Speech given before the National Symposium on
Aboriginal Women: Past, Present and Future (Lethbridge,
Alberta, Canada, October 18, 1989).
ABSTRACT: This speech by the deputy chief commissioner of
the Canadian Human Rights Commission discusses human rights,
employment security, and pay-equity issues for Native
Canadian women. The speech, offered in both English and
French, calls the inequality of opportunity for Native
Canadians a "national tragedy." It describes efforts to
bring improvement in aboriginal people's political, social,
cultural, and economic condition. The speaker describes
discrimination inherent in Canadian laws and steps to
correct them. The 1986 passage of the Employment Equality
Act is called a "major step forward." The act requires
employers to gather employment data and to take steps to
correct discrimination. The act has provided a substantial
information base, showing that aboriginal people represented
only 0.7% of the industrial workforce and that their
salaries were generally lower than those of other workers.
Women were not adequately represented in the job categories.
Employment statistics for aboriginal females in specific
Canadian companies are offered. The commission has used the
statistics to review employment systems of major Canadian
employers, including some federal offices. Equal pay for
women is also discussed. Since 1977, Canadians have been
able to close the gap between what women and men earn for
equal work by only 3%. The Human Rights Commission favors
imposing an obligation for employers to evaluate their pay
practices and develop plans to resolve pay-discrimination
issues. Also discussed are the problems and benefits of the
Status Registration and Band Membership system, defined by
recently-enacted federal legislation in Canada. (TES)
KEY DESCRIPTORS: Affirmative-Action; Civil-Rights
Legislation; Discriminatory-Legislation; Employed-Women;
Employment-Practices; Employment-Statistics; Foreign
Countries; Racial-Discrimination; Sex-Fairness
KEY DESCRIPTORS: *Canada-Natives; *Comparable-Worth; *Equal
Opportunities-Jobs; *Females-
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