A strategy designed to ensure that the government害羞草研究所檚 workforce reflects B.C.害羞草研究所檚 population runs the risk of failing.

That is the conclusion emerging from an audit of the diversity and inclusion strategy, which the Public Service Agency launched in 2021.

害羞草研究所淒iversity and inclusion have real meaning and value to people,害羞草研究所� Michael Pickup, B.C.害羞草研究所檚 auditor general said, when he presented his findings earlier this month at the provincial legislature.

害羞草研究所淓veryone in B.C. should see themselves reflected in the public service.害羞草研究所�

However, available B.C. statistics from 2020 show that may not be the case.

While Indigenous People make up 5.6 per cent of the available workforce, they make up 4.6 per cent of the public service sector.

Meanwhile, racialized people account for 30.3 per cent of the provincial population but are underrepresented at 20.5 per cent of government agency workers.

People with disabilities represent 11 per cent of B.C.害羞草研究所檚 workforce and almost 25 per cent of the population, but make up less than seven per cent of the public sector.

PSA launched the three-year-long strategy titled Where We All Belong in March 2021 to ensure the public service reflects the B.C. population and is inclusive.

Pickup害羞草研究所檚 office audited the strategy害羞草研究所檚 governance from Jan. 1, 2018 to Nov. 4, 2022, with the intention of determing if the PSA had created robust structures to support the strategy.

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害羞草研究所淲e found there were some important elements missing that, if in place, would give the strategy a better chance of achieving its important goals for diversity and inclusion,害羞草研究所� Pickup said.

Missing elements include data analysis and specific targets for recruitment, according to the audit.

害羞草研究所淭hese missing aspects matter when the work is spread across a large workforce that is divided among multiple ministries,害羞草研究所� Pickup said. 害羞草研究所淣ot having these supports in place doesn害羞草研究所檛 mean necessarily that the work isn害羞草研究所檛 happening, but it could mean that it is not happening consistently or that work won害羞草研究所檛 be complete before the strategy ends in 2024.害羞草研究所�

The report made seven recommendations 害羞草研究所� all of which the PSA has accepted 害羞草研究所� including the development of recruitment targets.

害羞草研究所淭his is an important topic for everyone and it害羞草研究所檚 close to my heart on a personal and professional level as the first Indigenous auditor-general in Canada and the first auditor-general from the LGBTQ2S+ community,害羞草研究所� Pickup said.

wolfgang.depner@blackpress.ca
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