🚀 go-pugleaf

          JOBS POLICY BARS WHITES FOR YEARS, NDP ADMITS

          by Derek Ferguson, Toronto Star, Wed. Nov. 10, 1993 pg. A9

     Ontario's New Democratic Party government has adopted a policy 
that may keep white males out of most new civil service jobs for as
long as 15 years, says Management Board chairperson Brian Charlton.
     "It's fair because it eliminates a discrimination that has been
going on," Charlton told reporters during a midday break from an
inner cabinet meeting at McLean House on the Sunnybrook Health Science
Centre grounds.
     Premier Bob Rae wanted no part of the controversial policy
yesterday.
     "I just don't know enough about it," he said.  "I think you
should talk to Brian Charlton."
     Charlton was left to justify the "positive measures" policy,
adopted by the government in July and aimed at correcting an
under-representation of women, francophones, natives and racial
minorities in the 65,000 member Ontario Public Service.
     The minister's comments were in response to the publication of
the November 5 edition of Job Mart, an internal civil service 
periodical which advertised a job for director of the information
technology branch of cabinet's management board - a senior
management position paying between $74,000 and $111,000 a year.
     The job offer specifically stated that ONLY the designated groups
were eligible to apply.
     When asked by reporters what message this gave to white males
who may be interested in and qualified for the job, Charlton was
blunt.
     "Their time will come.  It's no different than employment equity,"
he said.  "There is only a problem until the work force is in balance."
     Charlton then said it could be some time before the "balance" is 
achieved.
     "It may take us three years.  It may take us five years.  It may
take us 15 years to get fully into balance," he said.