Abuse, harassment and suicide: Report finds anti-Black racism exists at highest levels of federal government
WARNING: This story contains references to sensitive matters including violence, racism, self-harm and harassment
A government-funded report released to CTV News highlights 'systemic racism' against dozens of Black executives within the federal public service, including allegations of abuse, violence and harassment that, in some instances, led to suicide.
The internal report titled 'A Study on the Black Executive Community in the Federal Public Service,' published by Dr. Rachel Zellars for the federal Black Executives Network and released Nov. 4, interviewed 73 current and former Black employees working in the senior ranks of the federal government between October 2023 and February 2024.
It found the interviews "reveal patterns of anti-Black discrimination marked by differential treatment, abuse, cruelty, refusal, and subjugation."
Several Black executives interviewed in the study spoke of 'complaints and threats' used to punish them for their mistakes, including one person "witnessing racial harassment that led to the suicide of a Black colleague."
“Black employees are simply not forgiven for mistakes. This is huge problem. I had two sponsors who were forgiving in my career, but my supervisors were not. A slight mistake caused a career setback of two or three years, or a mistake could mean you were done for good. There is not enough forgiveness for Black employees, and I have seen this time and time again over my career," said an anonymous Black federal public servant interviewed as part of the study.
"One former executive shared how a white colleague raised a chair at him and threatened to “beat the [N-word] out of him” during a meeting with other participants,' reads the report.
Challenges to Black women's leadership
The report found that Black female executives within the federal public sector were constantly challenged and experienced 'desperate, dehumanizing conditions.'
In the study, 64 per cent of Black executives reported direct 'workplace harassment or intimidation' or the threat of reputational harm from supervisors or senior leaders. From that group, Black women reported the highest rate of harassment and intimidation at 78 per cent.
During the interviews, four Black women said they attempted suicide as a result of workplace harassment with many others saying they began to use antidepressant medication as their work environment led to chronic depression and ongoing mental health challenges.
Black women in these top tier roles within the public sector also recounted violence and sexual harassment they faced.
"One woman who experienced sexual advances from her director shared that she did not report because she was already deflated from years of stagnation and losing opportunities to white colleagues," said the report.
Report released during push for Black class-action lawsuit
The report is released as an advocacy group representing roughly 45,000 present and former Black public servants -- dating back to 1970 -- are laying the groundwork for a potential class-action lawsuit against the federal government.
A Federal Court hearing taking place in early November is looking to gain clearance to move ahead with the lawsuit, seeking $2.5-billion dollars in compensation -- as well as, a diversity plan to ensure the public ervice is representative of Black Canadians at all government levels and a Black equity commissioner to oversee the implementation of diversity measures.
"It's been filed against 99 departments across the federal service," said Nicholas Marcus Thompson, the CEO of the Black Class Action Secretariat in an interview with CTV News Saturday.
"[It is] to address loss of pension, loss of salary, pain and suffering," he added. "People have retired in the same positions that they've started in."
Recommendations highlighted in report
The 'Federal Black Executive Study' also highlights multiple recommendation for the federal government to implement -- including a zero-tolerance policy for antiBlack harassment.
It suggests senior leaders be subject to 'consequential accountability through performance assessments,' when it comes to maintaining an harassment-free workplace for Black public servants.
The report also recommends achieving employment equity by increasing representation of Black executives across all levels.
In response to the report, Treasury Board of Canada says it acknowledges systemic racism exists within the federal public service -- but said there are protocols in place within the public service to address workplace complaints instead of resorting to lawsuits.
"The Federal Public Sector Labour Relations Act (FPSLRA) outlines the rules for collective bargaining and grievance handling for the federal public sector," said Treasure Board of Canada Press Secretary Myah Tomasi. "The Act grievance process cannot be circumvented by separate action because Section 236 of the Act prevents courts from hearing disputes covered by the Act’s grievance process, meaning employees must use the established process instead of taking separate legal action."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Labour minister unveils steps to end Canada Post strike
Canada Post workers began their strike four weeks ago, halting mail and package deliveries across the country. Labour Minister Steven MacKinnon said he hopes work will resume as early as next week.
BREAKING Ottawa to remove 30% investment cap for Canadian pension funds
Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland says the upcoming fall economic statement on Monday will remove the cap that currently restricts Canadian pension funds from owning more than 30 per cent of the voting shares of a Canadian entity.
Canada's homicide rate down in most provinces, with 2 exceptions
The homicide rate is declining in Canada, and the country’s three largest cities all saw double-digit percentage decreases in homicides per capita, according to data released this week.
Top musician forced to cancel Toronto concert after Air Canada refused to give his priceless cello a seat on plane
Famed British cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, who became a household name after performing at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, has said he had to cancel a concert in Canada after the country’s largest airline denied his pre-booked seat for his cello.
Eight people injured after horse-drawn wagon went out of control in eastern Ont.
Eight people were injured after horses became out of control while a man was offering a horse-drawn wagon ride Thursday in eastern Ontario, according to the Brockville Police Service.
Buckingham Palace maid arrested after drunken brawl at work Christmas party
Buckingham Palace is investigating after a member of staff was arrested at the end of a rowdy Christmas party.
'They believe in diplomacy, good luck': Doug Ford doubles down on energy threat as some premiers distance themselves
Doug Ford is standing behind his threat to stop providing the U.S. with electricity in response to president-elect Donald Trump’s promised tariffs, even as several other premiers publicly distance themselves from the stance.
As the Canada Post dispute wears on, here's what the labour minister says about Christmas deliveries
The Canada Post labour dispute has now passed the four-week mark, and as Christmas draws near, some may be anxious about delayed or cancelled shipments affecting their holiday shopping.
4 people injured after car crashes into bus shelter in Longueuil
Four people were sent to hospital after a car crashed into a bus shelter in Longueuil Friday morning.
Local Spotlight
140-pound dog strolls solo into Giant Tiger store in Stratford, Ont.
A furry, four-legged shopper was spotted in the aisles of a Giant Tiger store in Stratford, Ont. on Sunday morning.
North Pole post: N.S. firefighters collect letters to Santa, return them by hand during postal strike
Fire departments across Nova Scotia are doing their part to ensure children’s letters to Santa make their way to the North Pole while Canada Post workers are on strike.
'Creatively incredible': Regina raised talent featured in 'Wicked' film
A professional dancer from Saskatchewan was featured in the movie adaptation of Wicked, which has seen significant success at the box office.
Montreal man retiring early after winning half of the $80 million Lotto-Max jackpot
Factor worker Jean Lamontagne, 63, will retire earlier than planned after he won $40 million on Dec. 3 in the Lotto-Max draw.
Man, 99, still at work 7 decades after opening eastern Ontario Christmas tree farm
This weekend is one of the busiest of the year for Christmas tree farms all over the region as the holidays approach and people start looking for a fresh smell of pine in their homes.
Saskatoon honours Bella Brave with birthday celebration
It has been five months since Bella Thompson, widely known as Bella Brave to her millions of TikTok followers, passed away after a long battle with Hirschsprung’s disease and an auto-immune disorder.
Major Manitoba fossil milestones highlight the potential for future discoveries in the province
A trio of fossil finds through the years helped put Manitoba on the mosasaur map, and the milestone of those finds have all been marked in 2024.
The 61st annual Christmas Daddies Telethon raises more than $559,000 for children in need
The 61st annual Christmas Daddies Telethon continued its proud Maritime tradition, raising more than $559,000 for children in need on Saturday.
Calgary company steps up to help grieving family with free furnace after fatal carbon monoxide poisoning
A Calgary furnace company stepped up big time Friday to help a Calgary family grieving the loss of a loved one.