The monitoring system

In 2001, the Commission set up a system to measure whether employers found to be in compliance with the Act are making reasonable progress toward implementing their short-term hiring and promotion goals. In 2002, initial results from this system, although on a small sample of employers, will begin to arrive. Over the next few years, it should be possible to spot significant trends that will show whether the Act's purpose -- ensuring full representation of designated groups -- is being achieved.

Employers found in compliance by the Commission's audits have set short-term goals (usually over a three-year period) for hiring and promotion, and long-term goals for representation. Each year, every federally regulated private sector employer files a statistical report with Human Resources Development Canada. Likewise, the Treasury Board Secretariat reports each year on statistical progress in federal departments.

The Commission's system compares the results achieved by employers against the goals that they have set. If the goals are met, this indicates that the employment systems review effectively identified barriers to employment of the designated groups, that the plan did contain the appropriate measures to remove those barriers and decrease under-representation, and that the employer is making reasonable efforts in implementing this plan.

If the goals are not met, the Commission may then re-open the audit and seek corrective measures from the employer.

As noted earlier, there are now 73 employers in compliance that are being monitored. However, the majority of these were found in compliance in 2000 and 2001. To assess reasonable progress, it will be necessary to allow employers a few years to demonstrate that their employment equity plan is working. So far, only a small number of employers found in compliance two or three years ago can be monitored on the progress made since then. It is therefore too early to draw conclusions about reasonable progress of audited employers.

The Commission will be paying close attention to its monitoring results, as these will provide early indications on whether the Act is achieving its ultimate purpose.

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