Backgrounder: Workplace Opportunities: Removing Barriers to Equity – Ongoing projects

Backgrounder

Workplace Opportunities: Removing Barriers to Equity is a grants and contributions program that provides $3 million per fiscal year to projects aimed at improving representation of designated groups—women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities—in areas of low representation through partnerships and industry-tailored strategies. It is designed to support employers subject to the Employment Equity Act in reducing barriers to equity in their workplace.

Learn more about ongoing projects.

TRUCKING HUMAN RESOURCES CANADA

Project: Identifying/Responding to Systems-Related Challenges in Equity Reporting for Trucking Employers Under the Employment Equity Act
Funding: $499,977
Designated groups: All four designated groups
Sector: Transportation
Duration: August 2025 to August 2026

The project is designed to support the efforts of small and medium-sized ground transportation employers to collect, format and submit human resources (HR) and employment equity related data. The organization will assess the efficiency and effectiveness of HR strategies (workforce planning, recruitment, retention and training) and information technology systems (scheduling software, data management platforms and reporting tools) currently in place. It will explore key employment equity challenges and assess the extent to which current practices may support, hinder, or complicate reporting and reducing barriers to equity in the workplace. Trucking HR Canada will develop practical tools aimed at helping employers strengthen their ability to produce high-quality employment equity data while promoting targeted actions for increased inclusion and representation of members of designated groups.
 

TORONTO METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY

Project: Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Toolkit for Federally-Regulated Companies
Funding: $1,827,750
Designated groups: All four designated groups
Sectors: Banking and financial services¹, Communications², Transportation³
Duration: March 2023 to February 2026

Formerly Ryerson, Toronto Metropolitan University’s project aims to increase the representation of women, members of visible minorities (particularly Black Canadians), Indigenous Peoples and persons with disabilities among senior, middle and other managers, professional, as well as administrative and senior clerical personnel positions in 8 to 10 federally regulated organizations in the targeted sectors. Through its project, the university will develop new inclusion tools and guides tailored to industry-specific needs in order to address current gaps in leadership roles. The project is carried out in partnership with HSBC Canada, 30% Club Canada, Laurentian Bank of Canada, Royal Bank of Canada, Green Shield Canada, Canadian Tire Financial Services, Afroglobal Television and Purolator.
 

BLACK WOMEN BUSINESS NETWORK CANADA

Project: Improving the Representation of Blacks in Banking, Finance and Tech Sectors in British Columbia and Alberta
Funding: $1,504,793
Designated group: Members of visible minorities
Sectors: Banking and financial services and Other⁴(technology)
Duration: February 2023 to February 2026

Black Women Business Network’s project aims to improve representation of Black people, including newcomers, immigrants, persons with disabilities and francophones among senior, middle and other manager, supervisor and professional positions in the targeted sectors in British Columbia and Alberta. The project will identify industry-specific barriers and needs and disseminate newly developed diversity and inclusion tools and guides to 70 employers. The project is carried out in partnership with Tech and People Network, Black Buildup, Vancity Credit Union and British Columbia Institute of Technology.

DIGITAL NOVA SCOTIA

Project: Creating an Inclusive Culture: Building Tech Workplaces that Work
Funding: $1,064,940
Designated groups: All four designated groups
Sector: Other (technology)
Duration: February 2023 to February 2026

The project aims to increase understanding among employers in Nova Scotia’s technology industry of industry-specific barriers to diversity and inclusion. It will also provide access to human resources tools and resources to help increase representation of all four designated groups among professional, supervisor and mid-senior level manager positions. Over 700 employers, nationally, will receive the final report highlighting the research, framework and pilot results. The project is carried out in partnership with Mitacs, the Black Business Initiative, the Mi’kmaw Economic Benefits Office and industry partners, such as REDspace.

NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DISABLED STUDENTS

Project: Building Employment Pathways for People with Disabilities
Funding: $991,687
Designated group: Persons with disabilities
Sector: Transportation
Duration: February 2023 to February 2026

The Association’s project focuses on identifying barriers, needs and best practices for accessible employment in the field of postal and courier services among senior, middle and other manager, supervisor, administrative and clerical personnel, skilled sales and service personnel as well as semi-skilled manual worker positions. The Association will develop a best practices toolkit tailored for Canada Post and will help improve access to certified coaches with Sustainable Livelihoods Canada to support persons with disabilities to become successfully employed. The project is carried out in partnership with Nipissing University, Sustainable Livelihoods Canada, OntarioTech University, Manitoba League of Persons with Disabilities, Council of Canadians with Disabilities and Quebec Association for Equity and Inclusion in Post-Secondary Education.

CANADIAN APPRENTICESHIP FORUM

Project: Empowering Employers in Transportation to Embrace Inclusion and Training Women in the Trades
Funding: $426,132
Designated group: Women
Sector: Transportation
Duration: February 2023 to February 2026

Canadian Apprenticeship Forum’s project aims to increase the representation of women, including Indigenous and visible minority women, among senior, middle and other manager and supervisor positions in the transportation sector, specifically in the Red Seal trades. The Forum will engage more than 50 federally regulated employers through various events to share inclusion strategies and develop an inclusion guide so that higher numbers of women can be recruited, trained and retained. The project is carried out in partnership with Bison Transport and Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

REALIZE

Project: Canada’s Museums: Putting the ‘A’ (Accessibility) in IDEAL (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility Leading to belonging)
Funding: $1,011,494
Designated group: Persons with disabilities
Sector: Other (Canadian museums)
Duration: February 2023 to January 2026

Realize’s project aims to improve the representation of persons with long term and episodic disabilities among senior, middle and other manager, supervisor as well as administrative and senior clerical personnel positions in Canadian museums. Realize will develop tools and guides to support and address industry-specific needs, such as an accommodation planning toolkit and awareness workshops on episodic disabilities. Realize will also share findings on needs and sector-specific strategies to support diversity, equity and inclusion through a national webinar. The project is carried out in partnership with Ingenium Canada.

CANADIAN ADVANCED AIR MOBILITY

Project: Advanced Air Mobility Barriers to Equity Reduction
Funding: $721,226
Designated groups: Women, Indigenous peoples and members of visible minorities
Sector: Transportation
Duration: February 2023 to January 2026

Canadian Advanced Air Mobility’s project aims to improve the representation of women, Indigenous Peoples and members of visible minorities among manager and semi-skilled manual worker positions in the air transportation industry. By building on previous successful efforts to reduce barriers to equity, the consortium will engage with industry, academia and government partners to help increase the understanding of industry-specific barriers and industry-wide dialogue and understanding of current and desired future of state work environments.

The project is carried out in partnership with Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Bell Textron Canada Limited, British Columbia Institute of Technology, CAE, Canadian Council for Aviation and Aerospace, Canadian Mobility and Aerospace Institute, Community Air Mobility Initiative, Congress of Aboriginal Peoples, Diversity Development Network of Canada, Flight Crowd, Hamburg Aviation, Helijet, Indigenous Aerospace, InDro Robotics, Iskwew Air, Ontario Aerospace Council, Supernal and Women and Drones.
 

RESTIGOUCHE CBDC

Project: Removing Barriers for Persons with Disabilities in the Banking and Financial Services Sector
Funding: $1,092,932
Designated group: Persons with disabilities
Sector: Banking and financial services
Duration: January 2023 to December 2025

Restigouche CBDC’s project aims to improve understanding of industry-specific barriers to inclusion and provide effective human resources practices to address them. It will help improve the representation of persons with disabilities among senior, middle and other manager, professional, as well as administrative and senior clerical personnel positions in the banking sector. Restigouche CBDC will develop inclusion tools and guides tailored to industry-specific needs as well as an assessment tool for assisting employers in hiring and retaining persons with disabilities. The project is carried out in partnership with Gateway Association and National Bank.

Funding amounts are subject to change. Grants and contributions agreements are disclosed on the proactive disclosure webpage.

1. Includes all major Canadian banks and other establishments primarily engaged in financial transactions or in facilitating financial transactions.

2. Covers businesses that operate radio and television broadcasting studios and facilities, as well as telecommunications services providers.

3. Consists of air, rail, bus, water and pipeline transportation industries, inter-provincial trucking, postal service couriers and warehousing and storage.

4. Encompasses industries such as nuclear power generation, metal ore mining, professional, scientific and technical services, investigation and security services, public administration.