fostering employment equity and diversity in the nova scotia legal
fostering employment equity and diversity in the nova scotia legal
fostering employment equity and diversity in the nova scotia legal
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advancement with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> firms appears to be m<strong>in</strong>imal. There cont<strong>in</strong>ue to exist formidable obstacles<br />
to full <strong>and</strong> equal participation with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> private bar.<br />
The Nova Scotia government <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong> particular <strong>the</strong> Department of Justice, as shown by <strong>the</strong><br />
statistical <strong>in</strong>formation, has hired graduates of <strong>the</strong> IB&M Program. It must be noted, however,<br />
that consistent with current government hir<strong>in</strong>g policies <strong>the</strong> graduates have not been hired as<br />
permanent full time employees but ra<strong>the</strong>r on a contract basis. Government is <strong>the</strong>refore<br />
encouraged to exam<strong>in</strong>e its hir<strong>in</strong>g policy <strong>in</strong> light of <strong>the</strong> impact it has upon <strong>the</strong> retention <strong>and</strong><br />
promotion of Indigenous Black <strong>and</strong> Mi’kmaq lawyers with<strong>in</strong> government.<br />
The difficulties <strong>and</strong> obstacles experienced by Indigenous Blacks <strong>and</strong> Mi’kmaq lawyers at <strong>the</strong><br />
private bar is <strong>in</strong>dicative of <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>equities that have existed historically with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Prov<strong>in</strong>ce of Nova<br />
Scotia. The struggle however to remedy <strong>and</strong> redress past <strong>and</strong> present <strong>in</strong>equities is ongo<strong>in</strong>g. The<br />
legacy of racism will not on its own volition wi<strong>the</strong>r <strong>and</strong> go away ra<strong>the</strong>r it requires <strong>the</strong> assistance<br />
of those <strong>in</strong> positions of power <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>fluence. Government <strong>and</strong> our political leaders occupy such a<br />
position <strong>and</strong> by <strong>the</strong>ir efforts can make <strong>the</strong> greatest strides towards remov<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> systemic barriers<br />
to full <strong>and</strong> equal participation at all levels of society.<br />
INDIGENOUS BLACKS AND MI’KMAQ PROGRAMME DATA:<br />
GRADUATES<br />
Number of Graduates s<strong>in</strong>ce 1989 63<br />
Number of Black Graduates 37<br />
Number of Mi’kmaq Graduates 26<br />
Number of Indigenous Black Graduates 35<br />
Number of Non-Indigenous Black Graduates 02<br />
NUMBER OF STUDENTS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN THE IB&M PROGRAM<br />
{28 First, Second, <strong>and</strong> Third Years}<br />
Black Students<br />
Number of Indigenous Black Students 12<br />
Number of Non-Indigenous Black Students 09<br />
12