More "progress" from the multicult hellhole, Toronto:

ANTONELLA ARTUSO | QMI AGENCY

TORONTO -- The Ontario government has launched a project to open up promotion possibilities for its employees -- but only those who "self-identify as a black female" need apply.

According to documents obtained by QMI Agency, the Administrative Internship Pilot Program is the first Ontario Public Service (OPS) initiative in "recent history" to target a specific group of employees.

"The purpose of this internship program, which has been developed after considering employees' feedback and OPS employment data, is to begin to increase the representation of black, female employees in functional roles (such as) communications, finance, policy and procurement," a Dec. 5 memo to all Ministry of Government Services employees reads.:rofl

However, Gregory Thomas of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation said all Ontarians should receive equal treatment from their government.

"If the Wynne government is offering employment preferences or advancement only to some Ontarians based upon their racial ancestry, then that's repugnant," Thomas said.

The Ontario government has a controversial history with employment equity programs which favour one group in society over another.

In 1993, the government of NDP premier Bob Rae issued a job advertisement that explicitly stated white males were prohibited from applying, but bowed to public outrage and withdrew the posting.

The Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey released last week revealed that men lost four jobs for every one lost by a woman in Ontario last month.

The Dec. 5 memo says that 26% of black employees hold administrative positions, compared to 17% of all OPS employees; and 46% of black administrative employees are dissatisfied with the OPS career progression compared to 27% of all OPS employees.

The memo, signed by Government Services Deputy Minister Kevin Costante, says that consultations have also been held with the OPS East Asian and South Asian network groups to develop "appropriate solutions."

"These may include more targeted development programs," Costante says.

Jenna Mannone, a spokesman for Government Services Minister John Milloy, said the OPS is committed to being an inclusive organization.

"The OPS always hires based on merit," Mannone said in a statement. "This pilot project is a career development program for employees already employed in the OPS.

To qualify for the new Administrative Internship Pilot Program, which is accepting applications this month, an employee would have to hold an OPSEU position in one of three participating ministries, have worked in the OPS for at least three years, and have some knowledge, skills, education or experience in the four internship streams of communications, finance, policy and procurement.

Ten employees from the three ministries will be chosen for a one-year internship.

Costante says that the Ontario Human Rights Code permits the government to offer special programs for disadvantaged groups.

"And the Ontario Human Rights Commission was consulted when developing this program," he says.

The goal of the "landmark pilot internship program" is to build an inclusive, accessible, healthy workplace that leverages diverse talents and skills of all employees to best serve Ontario's changing communities, the memo says.

The only person that Premier Kathleen Wynne dropped from cabinet last year was Scarborough-Guildwood MPP Margarett Best, the sole black woman leading a government ministry.

http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/politics/archives/2014/01/20140116-210530.html