5 - Advancing equity and inclusion
Learn more about our recommendations for advancing equality and inclusion, or click here to download the full report.
5.1 Developing more equitable and inclusive workplaces
Encouraging greater diversity in Canada’s auto sector across all under-represented groups must be an objective of employers, governments and unions alike. Expanding hiring practices and establishing strong workplace-based supports that are inclusive of women, Black workers and Indigenous workers, workers of colour, people who have immigrated to Canada and workers with disabilities, creates needed economic opportunities.
Recommendations:
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#26. Legislate employment equity in all jurisdictions
Employment Equity laws act as a guideline through which employers must work proactively to establish barrier-free employment opportunities and working conditions for historically marginalized groups, specifically women, indigenous peoples, workers with disabilities and workers of colour.
Systemic discrimination and deeply rooted social and cultural biases create artificial barriers that can exclude workers from job opportunities and career advancement, as evidenced by the labour market outcomes outlined above. These barriers, if not broken down, can divide workers, break lines of solidarity and limit collective bargaining power. Legislating Employment Equity in all jurisdictions is an important step governments can take. Requiring employers in both public and private sectors to identify workplace barriers, devise plans that ensure equal access, opportunity and greater worker representation, monitor job placements and promotions, and conduct regular systems reviews in collaboration with unions, will go a long way to address the historic underrepresentation of equity-seeking groups in the auto industry.
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#27. Support employers and community organizations committed to hire, train and retain workers in underrepresented communities
Creating opportunities for historically marginalized and under-represented groups to secure jobs in the auto sector requires collaboration among various industry stakeholders. Governments can assist by allocating funds to offset costs to employers that commit to hire, train and retain workers from marginalized groups, contingent on employment equity action plans and systems reviews in place. Such a program can operate in conjunction with the proposed national skills assessment and inventory and can build on efforts undertaken by the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association through its Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Fund.61
61 See: https://apma.ca/edi-fund/
5.2 Building an auto industry through reconciliation
It is imperative that governments understand the perils of the shift to EV production without a full and proper acknowledgement of Canada’s repressive colonial past and its obligations to Indigenous Peoples and their land. Assurances that discussions surrounding new mining projects discussions happen in consultation and with the consent of Indigenous Peoples, in line with UNDRIP, is paramount.
Recommendations:
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#28. Establish and facilitate a clear process for dialogue between developers and Indigenous Peoples prior to permitting mining activities
The principles of free, prior and informed consent, as committed under UNDRIP legislation, must be operationalized by federal and provincial government officials to facilitate meaningful, respectful and constructive dialogue between Indigenous communities and developers. A January 2022 report produced by the British Columbia First Nations Energy and Mining Council provides useful guidance for consent-based approval and regulation of new mining sites, from permitting to land reclamation and restoration, in a manner that upholds Indigenous self-determination, self-governance and human rights.65
65 BC First Nations Energy and Mining Council (January 2022): Indigenous Sovereignty: Consent for Mining on Indigenous Lands, see http://fnemc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/FNEMC_mining_consent_FinalReport.pdf
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#29. Require fair share agreements between mining firms and Indigenous and Northern communities to localize the economic benefits of mining projects
Governments must draw links between significant upstream industrial development projects and local job growth, skills training, revenue sharing and community and infrastructure development in Indigenous and Northern communities. Promoting and brokering the negotiation of fair share agreements between developers and Indigenous and Northern communities is one tool to maximize local benefits and can work in tandem with incentive-based programs to promote new Indigenous-led start-ups and Indigenous ownership of local suppliers. Such agreements can contain revenue sharing commitments with Indigenous Band Councils and local governments along with local hiring requirements, contracts with local Indigenous businesses and suppliers.66 These may also include commitments to empower local and Indigenous community oversight of a project’s environmental standards as well as co-ownership through equity shares.
66 For example, see agreement between Generation Mining and Biigtigong Nishnaabeg First Nation in Ontario: https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2022/01/28/agreement-ensures-fair-share-for-first-nation.html