The Employment Equity Act advances equality in the workplace so that no one is denied employment opportunities or advancement for reasons unrelated to ability. The Act also aims to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment experienced by women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities. The Employment Equity Act covers approximately 1.7 million employees in the following sectors:
the federal private sector
federal Crown corporations
First Nation Band Councils and Indigenous Self-Governments (certain activities)
federal contractors (applies to contractors with 100 or more employees receiving contracts of at least $1 million from the Government of Canada),
and the federal public sector, including: the Public Service (Treasury Board and the Public Service Commission carry out employer obligations for the core federal public administration. The President of Treasury Board reports to Parliament each year)
the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Treasury Board and the Public Service Commission carry out employer obligations for the core federal public administration. The President of Treasury Board reports to Parliament each year), and
Canadian Armed Forces (Treasury Board and the Public Service Commission carry out employer obligations for the core federal public administration. The President of Treasury Board reports to Parliament each year)
