THE CHRONICLE-HERALD
OTTAWA - The federal public service is racist and it's time for the government to appoint a commissioner to do something about the problem, says Senator Donald Oliver.
Mr. Oliver, an African-Nova Scotian lawyer from Wolfville, said Ottawa has failed to meet targets for visible minorities set out in a plan for the public service that the government adopted in 2000, although women, the disabled and native people have all made progress.
"Of all these four groups, three of them have made great progress, but visible minorities are still at the very bottom of the heap," Mr. Oliver said.
He said there are systemic barriers, "largely based on racism," that keep visible minorities from advancing in the public service.
The senator said he wants a commissioner, who reports to Parliament, to tackle the problem.
Appointed to the Senate by Brian Mulroney in 1990, Mr. Oliver said he intends to push the issue in the Senate, but he really hopes the Paul Martin government will act.