National Employment Equity Forum

On September 24, 2026, the National Employment Equity Council convened the National Employment Equity Forum in the Parliamentary Precinct in Ottawa under the theme “Modernizing Employment Equity: Building Canada Together”. The Forum formed part of the Council’s work to advance, monitor and protect employment equity in Canada. Senator Dr. Kristopher Wells and Senator Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard served as Parliamentary Sponsors.

The Forum also announced the appointment of the Honourable Dr. Jean Augustine as the inaugural Patron of the National Employment Equity Council, recognizing her decades of public service and her contribution to the advancement of employment equity, including her work related to the 1995 Employment Equity Act.

The Forum marked 40 years since Canada’s first Employment Equity Act was adopted in 1986 and focused on the 187 recommendations of the Employment Equity Act Review Task Force. Twenty-four speakers contributed, including parliamentarians, former Cabinet ministers, Task Force members, senior public servants, federally regulated employers, labour representatives, academics and civil society leaders.

Speakers addressed recognition of Black and 2SLGBTQI+ workers, Indigenous employment and data sovereignty, disability inclusion, disaggregated data, recruitment and advancement, enforcement and accountability, safe avenues for recourse, and the growing use of artificial intelligence in employment decisions.

The Forum took place at a time when modernization of the Act remained outstanding. As of September 24, 2026, modernization legislation had not been introduced.

The National Employment Equity Council is calling for an implementation plan that sets out the Government’s response to the Task Force’s 187 recommendations, identifies the measures that will proceed through legislation, regulation, policy or other action, and provides an anticipated timeline for legislative action and implementation.