Nova Scotia Public Service Continues to Build Diverse Workforce

Progress on government's commitment to diversity and equity are outlined in a report tabled in the legislature today, Dec. 9, by Public Service Commission Minister Frank Corbett.

"We're working to create a diverse workforce that is truly representative of the people we serve," said Mr. Corbett. "By bringing more diversity to our work environment, we will be better able to serve all Nova Scotians in an effective, inclusive and culturally competent manner."

Moving Toward Equity, Employment Equity and Diversity in the Nova Scotia Public Service 2009-10 outlines a number of department-led initiatives over the past year that improved workplace culture and diversity:

• The Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Intersex (LGBTI)Network for public service employees was established
• The network hosted the inaugural pride event in the House of Assembly.
• The Employment Equity Partnership by the Human Rights Commission was launched
• Project Brotherhood, a community-based, outreach and prevention program for African American men was launched.
• A task team to develop a research web portal to provide easy access to research and evidence-based human resource practices that support diversity was established

"The report shows that we are moving in the right direction with employment equity," said Mr. Corbett. "But there's still more work to do."

As of March 31, 801 (7.1 per cent) civil servants voluntarily self-identified as aboriginal, racially visible or a person with a disability, up 0.1 per cent from 2009.

Women made up about 53 per cent of the management group in the Nova Scotia public service, up 0.4 per cent from 2009.

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