Question 1

In a report released in September 2002 and prepared by the Public Service Commission, it was found that federal hiring rules are widely ignored by managers and favouritism is still very common. Which state response to racism has been rendered less effective as a result of these practices?

Accepted Answer

Employment equity legislation is designed to ensure fair hiring practices and equal opportunities in the workplace, which are undermined by favouritism and the ignoring of federal hiring rules.

Question 2

How did the federal government respond to growing concerns over employment discrimination against people of colour (visible minorities), women, persons with disabilities, and Aboriginal peoples in 1984?

Accepted Answer

The federal government established a royal commission of equality in employment, known as the Abella Commission, to address concerns about employment discrimination.

Question 3

In addition to its assumed role of providing leadership in combating racism and inequality in society and as a guarantor of human rights, the state also has a direct role in terms of its responsibility as a(n):

Accepted Answer

The state has a direct role as a provider of services, which includes ensuring access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and social welfare to its citizens.

Question 4

The purpose of the Employment Equity Act was to achieve equality in the workplace, and to correct the conditions of disadvantage in employment experienced by designated groups. Identify who would not be considered a member of a designated group.

Accepted Answer

The Employment Equity Act typically designates groups such as women, visible minorities, Aboriginal peoples, and persons with disabilities. A male police officer does not fall into any of these categories unless he has a disability.

Question 5

What does contract compliance refer to?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What does contract compliance refer to?
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Question 6

The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, ratified in 1970, is based on the conviction that any doctrine of superiority based on racial differentiation is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous.

Accepted Answer

The Convention explicitly states that any doctrine of racial superiority is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust, and dangerous, reflecting its commitment to eliminating racial discrimination.

Question 7

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was enshrined in the constitution in 1982.

Accepted Answer

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was indeed enshrined in the Constitution Act, 1982, as part of Canada's efforts to patriate its constitution from the United Kingdom.

Question 8

The Charter of Rights and Freedoms prevents one group of citizens from discriminating against another.

Accepted Answer

The Charter of Rights and Freedoms primarily restricts government actions and does not directly prevent private citizens or groups from discriminating against each other.

Question 9

Unlike the United States, Canada's Anti-Terrorism Act provides a clear and concise definition of what constitutes an act of terrorism.

Accepted Answer

Canada's Anti-Terrorism Act, like many legal documents, has been criticized for having a broad and somewhat vague definition of terrorism, similar to the United States' legislation.

Question 10

Employment Equity legislation is a government strategy based on the enforcement of hiring quotas in both the public and private sector of the Canadian labour market.

Accepted Answer

Employment Equity legislation in Canada aims to achieve equality in the workplace by removing barriers to employment for women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and visible minorities, but it does not enforce hiring quotas.

Question 11

Minority organizations have been exploited by the state as an expedient way to deliver public services to people of colour.

Accepted Answer

Historically, minority organizations have sometimes been used by the state to deliver services to communities of color, often due to their established trust and networks within these communities, but this can also lead to exploitation if not properly supported or funded.

Question 12

Under contract compliance, a vendor's contract is contingent on the existence of an equity program. However, there is no penalty yet in place for non-compliance.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Under contract compliance, a vendor's contract is...

Question 13

It has been argued that while public policies, including the Canadian Multiculturalism Act and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, represent significant steps on the path to racial equality, they are not instruments of social transformation.

Accepted Answer

These policies are designed to promote equality and protect rights, but they do not directly address or transform the underlying social structures and attitudes that contribute to racial inequality.

Question 14

The "symbolic multiculturalism" of state policies holds to a paradigm of pluralism premised on a hierarchical order of cultures that under certain conditions "allows" or "tolerates" non-dominant cultures to participate in the dominant culture.

Accepted Answer

Symbolic multiculturalism often involves a superficial acknowledgment of cultural diversity while maintaining a hierarchy where the dominant culture remains central, allowing limited participation of non-dominant cultures.

Question 15

Employment equity legislation has had no impact on the Canadian labour market since its inception.

Accepted Answer

Employment equity legislation in Canada has aimed to improve opportunities for historically disadvantaged groups, leading to increased diversity and representation in the workforce.

Quiz 12: State Responses to Racism in Canada