Racism divides federal offices in Manitoba: report
WebPosted Wed Jan 3 20:21:04 2001 C.B.C. News
WINNIPEG - Ongoing racism and harassment are causing chaos in the Manitoba offices of the federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, CBC News has learned.
A consulting firm hired by Ottawa found turmoil among the 200 employees who work in the department's Manitoba operations.
The scathing assessment obtained by CBC News validates an earlier report that found: 46 per cent of participants observed racism, discrimination or harassment within the last year; resentment between aboriginal and non-aboriginal employees;
an ongoing theme of fear in the workplace and a sense of chaos.
Lorne Cochrane, the department's director in Manitoba, says chaos is too strong a word to describe the situation, but he admits they have to work on some issues.
"We are very serious," he says. "We want to get the bottom of some of the problems that have been identified in the report."
Cochrane believes a policy to increase the number of aboriginal staff to 50 per cent may explain some of the resentment among workers.
Don Cardinell of the Public Service Alliance of Canada says the problems at the department have been going on for years, but nothing has been done.
"We're hoping there's going to be a plan and that we're going to meet with management to ensure this plan is followed through on, and this isn't going to be a document that is filed and collects dust," he says.
All sides say the problems have to be fixed if there is any hope of the department doing its job of serving aboriginal people.
A meeting is scheduled for Jan. 10 involving employees, managers, and the consultants. |
