Public Works Makes Hiring White Men Illegal

[Argus]

The logic is that without this reverse-discrimination you would be discriminating against minorities due to historical disadvantges, prejustices, and so on.  It is making up for the mistakes of the past and in many ways I think that makes complete sense.

That's interesting logic given that 90% of visible minorities are first and second generation Canadians.

I also think it makes complete sense that demographics in society be represented in its civil service.  It allows for the greater posibility that all members of society will have people working in their government that take them into consideration.

So in other words, we should ensure that a certain percentage of employees are pedophiles, rapists, racists, drug addicts and sociopaths? Would you be willing to discriminate so that the proper percentages of Amish and ultra-orthodox Christians are hired? What about Mormons and those folk out in BC who like to have multiple wives and wander around naked? We must represent all members of society, after all.

For example, there are some thousands of Somalians in Ottawa. Few of them have a very good grasp of English, never mind French, but should we not force the government to hire on a number of them regardless, even if they can't really communciate very well with their co-workers? Hey, if you can drive a cab, surely you can follow an audit trail!

And given that not all segments of our delightful "cultural mosaic" are as equally enthralled with working for the public service, or, for that matter, becoming police, fire fighters or soldiers, should we comple those minority groups to supply the proper portion of volunteers, whether they like it or not? Or should we simply take anyone who comes forward from those groups regardless of competence?

[tml12]

I have to agree with cybercoma,

what!?

Why do demographics need to be represented? Please tell me why that should be mandatory?

I mean, I'm just saying...you're discriminating by ethnicity and gender regardless. At that point does it matter which one you're discriminating for? Why do these things even need to be a factor??

This is all insane to me.

Insane is the right term. The policies for ending discrimination, a while ago, meant taking down signs (and barriers) that said "Whites Only". It is hardly a step forward, nor does it indicate a positive change, to simply change the sign to "Non-Whites Only".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Again, agreed.

So because we discriminated against certain people before, we are now giving them the right to discriminate against us.

Two wrong cannot and do not make a right.

[tml12]

I have to agree with cybercoma,

what!?

Why do demographics need to be represented? Please tell me why that should be mandatory?

I mean, I'm just saying...you're discriminating by ethnicity and gender regardless. At that point does it matter which one you're discriminating for? Why do these things even need to be a factor??

This is all insane to me.

Insane is the right term. The policies for ending discrimination, a while ago, meant taking down signs (and barriers) that said "Whites Only". It is hardly a step forward, nor does it indicate a positive change, to simply change the sign to "Non-Whites Only".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Again, agreed.

So because we discriminated against certain people before, we are now giving them the right to discriminate against us.

Two wrong cannot and do not make a right.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Just read in the paper that the Public Works Department ended this policy.

Justice was served (albeit not right away).

[fellowtraveller]

This is an odd story. Many managerial and technical positions, and many other occupations, would be hired by the Public Service Commission.

[Yaro]

I have to agree, inequality should be dealt with where it is found it should not be created. All this will do is create a justifiable backlash against a new underclass. There are many government departments that are made up primarily of women and the ministry of aboriginal affairs is made up of aboriginals to a large extent, are they going to put in a hiring policy which encourages white males are hired first in order to balance out the workforce? The whole notion is childish in the extreme.

[theloniusfleabag]

Dear Yaro,

I have to agree, inequality should be dealt with where it is found it should not be created. ......

are they going to put in a hiring policy which encourages white males are hired first in order to balance out the workforce? The whole notion is childish in the extreme.

I have to agree, any racial or gender 'quota system' is inherently discriminatory and does nothing to address the actual issues of equality or, for that matter, product quality.

Glad to see they finally ditched this one policy, anyway. They apologized,even.