Recasting Equity Presentation for National Metropolis 2006

PROMPT Policy Roundtable Mobilizing

Professions and Trades

‘Recasting Equity’Presented by Nikhat Rasheed

National Metropolis ConferenceVancouver, March 23 - 26 2006

Recasting Equity Presentation for National Metropolis 2006

PROMPT

PROMPT is the collective voice of Internationally Educated Persons (IEPs) represented by associations of immigrant professionals and community organizations.

Funded by Canadian Heritage, Multiculturalism Program, Voluntary Sector Initiative

Recasting Equity Presentation for National Metropolis 2006

Key Objectives To develop policy alternatives and

recommendations to increase access to professions and trades for IEPs such that they can maximize their contributions to Canada

To develop the concept of equity and eliminate systemic inequities and the assumed deficiency of IEPs

To promote the role of immigrants in creating innovation

Recasting Equity Presentation for National Metropolis 2006

Traditional Framework of Equity in Canada

Background to equity legislation Focus on Equal opportunity/ Access for

employment opportunities Employment equity 1984: “a strategy to

obliterate the present and residual effects of discrimination…. Open equitably the competition for employment opportunities to those arbitrarily excluded.”

Legislation to increased access for women, visible minorities, the disabled and aboriginals

Recasting Equity Presentation for National Metropolis 2006

Legislation affecting IEPs Constitution of Canada – BNA ‘immigration:

provincial’; provinces gave responsibility to FG

Charter of rights did not include discrimination against “place of education or training” as included in UN Charters – thus did not protect skilled immigrants (1982)

Federal government instituted employment equity (1984-86)

Province of Ontario (receiving most immigrants) repealed employment equity after just two years (1993-1995) retaining only pay equity for women

Recasting Equity Presentation for National Metropolis 2006

Immigration & Globalization 1986 points system ensured skilled immigrants

were highly qualified for transition into the “knowledge economy”

Skilled immigrants from non-traditional source countries, in particular racialized communities

Employment equity legislation had paradoxical effect of removing skilled immigrants out of the mainstream by terming them “visible minority”

Legislation to protect access might have contributed to reducing it “an applicant is an applicant”

Recasting Equity Presentation for National Metropolis 2006

Problems faced by IEPs De-legitimization of experience, skills and

education Denial or delays of licensure to practice Under-selling qualifications recommended Issue of Canadian experience vs. Relevant

experience vs. International experience

Recasting Equity Presentation for National Metropolis 2006

Why are these problems occurring? Current system: poor flow of principle of

equality from federal to provincial to local Assumption of deficiency: Lack of

knowledge, historical inequities result in constructing difference as negative

Equivalency vs. Complementarity This lens informs our policy and

programming e.g. bridge training

Recasting Equity Presentation for National Metropolis 2006

Governance Governance is capital focused not

human focused Institutional rigidity – lack of

capacity of institutions to recognize and acknowledge social, intellectual and experiential knowledge different from theirs

Need to “think outside the box” and focus on “innovation”

Recasting Equity Presentation for National Metropolis 2006

Canada today Canada, through its experiment in diversity

through immigration, has arrived at a new plateau of development.

To takes its place of pride on the global stage, it needs to take into account new international realities

Realities that have arrived through immigrants, seeking their place of equality within a human-centred governance for the globalized world.

Recasting Equity Presentation for National Metropolis 2006

Recasting equity Our definition of equity is a vigilant, on-

going, dynamic process that recognizes: Diversity of peoples, their common

humanity, intrinsic worth and dignity, and; Differential relations of power and material

circumstances between groups in society whether through historical, present or evolving circumstances that require interventions to rebalance.

Recasting Equity Presentation for National Metropolis 2006

Recasting equity – practically?

IEPs are Canadians; we must restore equality for all through continuing mainstreaming IEPs in all processes

We must focus on institutional change and move towards human-centred governance; the protection of the human being must reign supreme

Recasting Equity Presentation for National Metropolis 2006

If anyone in the world can achieve this new vision…

………Canada can!

Recasting Equity Presentation for National Metropolis 2006

Contact

Nikhat RasheedPROMPT Coordinator820 – 2 Carlton StreetToronto, ON M5B 1J3nikhat@cassa.on.ca (416) 979-8611 ext. 4310