By: Joseph C.Grogan, B.S., and M.Ed., Canada

In theory, in the province of Ontario, Canada, we have equality of opportunity; yet, many studies have shown that this theory is just that, a theory. For example, a research project was undertaken by The Social Planning Council of Metro Toronto a few years ago that seemed to prove the existence of systemic discrimination. This is the hidden use of power by one group against others; actually, there were two projects that then produced two reports entitled, No Discrimination Here? And who in these two well researched reports could contact the Social Planning Council of Metro Toronto directly. Furthermore, both the Toronto Star and Canada’s national newspaper, ‘The Globe and Mail in the last two years have had several reports that show that many employment agencies screen out from possible job Opportunities, at the stated/unstated request of employers, women, persons of color, and members of venous ethnic communities. This occurs even though in Ontario we have in this province a Human Rights Code which is supposed to ensure that all of us are treated equally in five areas including employment.

Current economic conditions exacerbate unequal social relations.

At the present time in Ontario, we have an unemployment rate of approximately 11%, during such economic conditions, racist or unfair hiring practices forbidden by law but nevertheless now evident seem to be more prevalent. Instead of persons being considered for employment purely on the basis of merit, the practice of preferential treatment on the basis of family connection, school ties and “who you know not what you know,” become important. Many of these hidden acts of discrimination are very difficult to prove. Many of them are reinforced by unnecessary qualifications, such as “Canadian work/business experience” which seems to be a convenient mechanism for now screening out people from competitions; these kinds of sad realities make the need for employment equity legislation absolutely critical. In Ontario, The new democratic government that was elected in 1990 has introduced such a law in an effort to address these examples of systemic discrimination. What the Ontario law will require.

All workplaces covered by the law will be required to have a workforce at all levels in the workplace that is representative of their community, This means for example, that such Ontario workplaces cannot segregate their workplaces so that say, all supervisors are male/white while the vast majority of their production workers are from a single visible minority group/groups. The purpose of the law is to remove barriers to employment that presently exist, in hiring practices, training programs and promotional/human resource Management procedures, Four that they/we are not now going to be treated fairly in other words, reverse discrimination will apply. The response to this must be that we will only be able to have real equal employment opportunity if we insist that all workplaces covered by the law have a workforce that is really representative of our communities and that all members of that workforce are qualified. Thus, if we have a situation in a workplace where the number of women in supervisory positions is underrepresented, a qualified male and a qualified female apply, and they both have similar/identical qualifications for the job the woman should get the job.

We all need to be aware of these general requirements of the law so that we can make the law the instrument that it is supposed to be a means for ensuring that the theory of equal opportunity of employment becomes a reality. Many of our reader know from the experience of their own lives that such a law is needed. Furthermore, we only have rights if we know what these rights are and if we act in such a way as to ensure that these rights are respected, only through an informed citizenry can we ensure the dignity of all!! Finally, we must be prepared to stand up for ourselves and others only through informed action are our laws/ rights/responsibilities protected! AS many of our readers also know, in some countries of the world, certain groups use the law to justify unequal treatment of our fellow human beings. We need only consider for example, that institutionalization of inequality which apartheid represents; many other examples could also be cited, including examples from North America, especially continuing conditions in the United States. There, in spite of some progress, the everyday experience of black person often is one of a never-ending struggle against prejudice, unfair treatment and unequal opportunity. We all would be wise to consider the goal of a well-known Canadian socialist, J.S. Woodworth: What we desire for ourselves, we also desire for others.” We should also remember/note two other well-known slogans that are associated with union organizations. The first is associated with the Scottish Labor Party of the 19th century and is as follows: “No noble task was ever easy.” The other slogan that seems appropriate to mention is one that is associated with SACTU, a multiracial union that for years has fought the system of apartheid: “an injury to one is an injury to all.”

Article extracted from this publication >>  June 18, 1993