Recognized as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers (2024):
By Kristina Leung and Stephanie Leung, Mediacorp Canada Inc. staff editors (Mar 4, 2024)
Here are some of the reasons why Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada was selected as one of Canada's Best Diversity Employers (2024):
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada includes diversity, equity and inclusion commitments in all executives' performance agreements, centred around the themes of changing the public service culture, reflecting diversity and promoting inclusion, and updating policy and programs -- an example of a specific measure is actively supporting the sponsorship and career development and advancement of visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada launched an EX sponsorship program in early 2022 to help address representation gaps at the senior level by providing tailored developmental opportunities to high potential candidates from employment equity and equity seeking groups
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada launched a diversity and inclusion index to benchmark performance and track its progress -- index indicators include the representation of equity seeking groups in the workforce and in leadership positions, and responses to its employee survey (how employees feel in the workplace)
Highlights
Industry | Federal government, regulation of agricultural marketing and commodities |
Major Canadian locations | Ottawa ON, Winnipeg MB |
Full-time employees in Canada | 5,547 |
Management of diversity and inclusion initiatives | diversity, equity and inclusion centre of expertise (supports objectives outlined in the organization's strategy), diversity equity and inclusion branch collaboration committee, diversity champions, workplace wellness programs team (supports department’s commitment to being a psychologically healthy, safe and supportive work environment), national mental health steering committee |
Performance management and accountability | voluntary self-identification questionnaire, candidate self-identification, committed to gender parity in the delivery of science staffing plans, diversity, equity and inclusion commitments included in all performance agreements, diversity and inclusion index to benchmark the organization's performance |
Employee resource groups | Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Network Secretariat supports networks by providing guidance and training for co-chairs and members, funding for network activities and encouraging integration and collaboration, employee networks include Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (WiSTEM), Gender and Sexual Diversity Inclusiveness, Managers' Community, Persons with Disabilities, Visible Minorities, Indigenous Network Circle, Young Professionals, SPROUT (for students), and Administrative Community |
Noteworthy diversity strategies and policies | Mikinàk Lodge in Ottawa (provides access to Indigenous cultural teachings and a ceremony-friendly space), Indigenous Support and Awareness Office (promotes the recruitment and retention of Indigenous students and employees, provides Elder services when required, develops department-wide learning, and supports research collaborations with Indigenous partners) |
Recruitment initiatives | branch employment equity staffing plans, Indigenous student recruitment initiative, participates in the Federal Internship for Newcomers Program and Federal Internship Program for Persons with Disabilities, maintains recruitment inventories for students with disabilities and Indigenous students, accelerated staffing initiative to promote opportunities for women and Indigenous scientists |
Retention and development programs | EX sponsorship program launched in 2022 to provide development opportunities for high-potential candidates from employment equity and equity-seeking groups, Indigenous Career Navigators program (provides advice and guidance to help Indigenous employees navigate their career) |
Training and awareness initiatives | training on unconscious bias, mental health, gender and sexual diversity, Positive Space, mandatory Indigenous cultural awareness training, Indigenous awareness learning series, Indigenous Reads (books curated by the Indigenous Network Circle and available to read via the federal science library portal), Indigenous speaker series, diversity and inclusion toolkit for managers |
Diversity highlights | Safe Space sessions (small group facilitated sessions to enable employees to share personal experiences and perspectives), awards diversity, equity and inclusion certificates to teams, managers and employees who demonstrated great work in relation to diversity, AgriDiversity Program (a 5-year, up to $5-million initiative to help underrepresented groups participate in Canadian agriculture), Indigenous Pathfinder service (one-on-one support to help Indigenous peoples access relevant information, tools and support to start or expand activities in the agriculture and agri-food sector), Indigenous Agriculture Science Partnerships Program to enable AAFC scientists to establish and strengthen relationships with First Nations, Métis and Inuit partners |