Message to Deputy Ministers, Heads of Separate Agencies, and Heads of Federal Agencies

Call to Action on Anti-Racism, Equity, and Inclusion in the Federal Public Service

Dear Colleagues:

I am writing to you at a critical time, when there is a need to take deliberate action to address systemic racism and make the Public Service more inclusive. I know you are already taking action specific to your organizational context, consistent with the recently shared 2020-21 Deputy Minister Commitments on Diversity and Inclusion.

Today, I am sharing with you a Call to Action on Anti-Racism, Equity, and Inclusion, which sets common expectations for leaders across the Public Service to take practical actions that will be the basis for systemic change. It is about getting going on actions that are long overdue.

I encourage you to share this message and the Call to Action with your employees. Success will only be possible by harnessing the passion and ideas of all public servants, notably the vibrant communities and networks that have been advancing this change for a long time. While senior leaders are accountable, this set of actions demands collective responsibility – at all levels.

As we move forward with our efforts, there is benefit in learning and sharing with each other, both advancements and setbacks. We also have an obligation to demonstrate the progress being made.

So that we can continue to learn from each other across our communities and organizations, I will be asking you to write a letter to me informing me of the actions that you have taken in your organization and the early impacts they are having. The letters will be published on the Privy Council Office website for the benefit of all public servants.

I look forward to the progress we will make together.

Ian Shugart
Clerk of the Privy Council and Secretary to the Cabinet