Equity Plan

[1] *In the Commission’s Equity Policy, the term “Indigenous” is used in place of “Aboriginal” in describing the First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples of Canada. This is in recognition of the history of the Indigenous People of Canada being the original owners of the land now known as Canada prior to European contact. The term “Aboriginal”, however, is used in the “Employment Equity Targets” section of this website for consistency with Statistics Canada’s language.  “Aboriginal Peoples” are defined in section 35 of Canada Constitution Act, 1982 as including “the Indian, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada”, the term “Indigenous” is the more acceptable collective word used to describe the original owners of the land and the Métis Peoples who are offspring of Indigenous and European ancestry. According to Statistics Canada, Aboriginal identity can be defined as those who are “First Nations (North American Indian), Métis or Inuk (Inuit) and/or those who are Registered or Treaty Indians (that is, registered under the Indian Act of Canada), and/or those who have membership in a First Nation or Indian band.” Statistics Canada –https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/ref/98-501/98-501-x2016009-eng.cfm#a2_1.