Moving Toward Equity in the Nova Scotia Public Service

NOTE: A list of corporate and department activities outlined in the Moving Toward Equity: Employment Equity and Diversity in the Nova Scotia Public Service report follows this release.

Policies for employment equity, fair hiring and respectful workplaces highlight the province's continued progress to being an inclusive and equitable employer.

The improvements to help ensure the Public Service is representative of Nova Scotians are outlined in the province's 2008-09 annual progress report, Moving Toward Equity: Employment Equity and Diversity in the Nova Scotia Public Service.

"The government of Nova Scotia is strongly committed to diversity and equity," said Frank Corbett, Minister of the Public Service Commission. "The strength of the Nova Scotia public service is in the commitment and engagement of our employees and the diversity of talents and skills that are brought to the service."

To help improve workplace culture and diversity, the Public Service Commission works with department and union partners to improve policy, develop programs and training and awareness initiatives.

Some of initiatives are:

• A Diversity Accommodation Fund that supports the work-related special needs of public servants with disabilities;
• A Summer Diversity Program and a Summer Female Mentorship Program which provide experience for students who are looking for a career with the Public Service;
• A Diversity Talent Pool which provides experience in government for members of designated groups and short-term staffing support for departments;
• A Diversity Selection Panel Pool that supports more diversity on hiring panels; and
• A Diversity Round Table which provides key partners a chance to help develop policies, programs and educational opportunities.

"Departments and offices can be proud of what has been achieved so far to help promote a public service that values diversity and addresses workplace barriers," said Mr. Corbett. "But we all recognize that more work needs to be done.

"We must see our diversity goals as critically important to the social and economic health of Nova Scotia. Working together, we can make a difference."

A copy of the report can be found at www.gov.ns.ca/psc .

Following is a list of corporate and departmental activities outlined in the Moving Toward Equity: Employment Equity and Diversity in the Nova Scotia Public Service report:

• A partnership between the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union with the Public Service Commission to participate in the 2008 Halifax Pride parade.
• Hear Our Voices video by the Department of Health's diversity committee, a powerful and innovative video that conveys individual transformation and organizational commitment to cultural competence.
• The Out of the Closet: A Critical Look at Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation and Our Work workshop by staff at Health Promotion and Protection to help staff better understand sexual orientation and sexual identity and how to apply it to programs and policies.
• The departments of Environment and Labour and Workforce Development partnered for the Amazing Race for Knowledge. The event examined human resource initiatives that promote and support developing healthy, supportive and inclusive work culture.
• Communications Nova Scotia continued its annual diversity film festival for public servants. The festival included a number of films on topics such as race, language, disability, Aboriginal Peoples, gender and sexual orientation.