About the program
Under the initial Federal Contractors Program, all organizations with 100 employees or more who wish to bid on federal contracts in excess of $200,000 are required to implement an employment equity program and to be in compliance with Federal Contractors’ Program requirements.
Effective June 2013, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada announced a redesigned Federal Contractors Program which increased the contract threshold to $1,000,000 from $200,000. Dalhousie remains subject to the redesigned Program. Failure to meet our obligations under the FCP could jeopardize our ability to bid on large federal contracts.
The FCP has had a significant social impact by fostering inclusivity, diversity, and equitable opportunities within the federal procurement process. The program's emphasis on outcomes, rather than solely compliance, has been instrumental in driving positive change. By requiring federal service contractors (not research contracts) to demonstrate efforts in achieving employment equity goals, such as hiring and promoting equity-deserving groups, the FCP has played a vital role in creating a more inclusive workforce.This has led to increased representation of women, racialized persons Indigenous peoples, and persons with disabilities contributing to a more diverse and representative public sector.
The FCP's focus on outcomes underscores the government's commitment to ensuring equal access to opportunities, promoting social cohesion, and building a more equitable society.
Federal Contractors Program requirements
Under the redesigned Federal Contractors Program, our compliance with the following requirements will be assessed every three years.
Collection of workforce information
Complete a workforce analysis
Establish short- and long-term numeric goals
Make reasonable progress and reasonable efforts
For more detailed information on these requirements and our obligations under the Federal Contractors Program, please visit the Labour Program’s FCP website.
Employment Equity and the FCP at Dalhousie
Dalhousie University first began exploring Employment Equity issues in 1981 and an Affirmative Action program was introduced in 1984 directed towards the appointment of female academics. In 1987, Dalhousie University signed the Certificate of Commitment to participate in the Federal Contractors Program and introduced the University's Employment Equity through Affirmative Action Policy in 1989.
In 2017, Dalhousie introduced the University's Employment Equity Policy [PDF-154KB].