Terms of Reference

ESDC Employee Pride Network

1. Name

The name of this entity shall be the ESDC Employee Pride Network. ESDC refers to the Employment and Social Development portfolio, including Service Canada and the Labour Program.

2. Vision

ESDC will play a leadership role as a model of inclusion within the Government of Canada. An inclusive ESDC acknowledges the right of LGBTQ2+Footnote1 employees to fully participate in all aspects of the Department. It is a vision based on values that create and shape policies, practices and services to ensure that everyone can participate as fully as they wish in the Department.

3. Mandate

ESDC Employee Pride Network will provide a safe forum for LGBTQ2+ employees and their allies to connect and discuss issues related to the promotion of a healthy and inclusive work environment for LGBTQ2+ employees. ESDC Employee Pride Network will raise awareness and serve as a consultative body on issues that impact LGBTQ2+ employees in the Department, and help the Department to deliver its commitment to diversity and inclusiveness in the workplace. ESDC Employee Pride Network is independent and employee-led with no attachment to a specific Branch or working group. ESDC Employee Pride Network is accountable to its membership, with Network activities supporting the broader diversity mandate within ESDC.

4. Role

ESDC Employee Pride Network will:

  • Create an inclusive environment for LGBTQ2+ employees at ESDC;
  • Provide networking opportunities and social and learning events for members and non-members in both work and non-work environments;
  • Build and maintain links with other employee networks for promoting inclusion and providing networking opportunities;
  • Provide an opportunity for ESDC employees to share their experiences;
  • Build and maintain links with other LGBTQ2+ networks across the federal public service and share information and best practices on LGBTQ2+ inclusion in the federal public service; and
  • Act as a key partner and primary facilitator for implementing the Positive Space InitiativeFootnote2 within ESDC.

5. Membership

Membership on the ESDC Employee Pride Network is open to employees of the Employment and Social Development portfolio, including Service Canada and the Labour Program. Membership is voluntary, and open to all employees who self-identify as LGBTQ2+, and to allied individuals who do not self-identify. Members should share a common goal of creating a diverse and inclusive workplace.

ESDC Employee Pride Network members are expected to:

  • Attend meetings and actively participate on a regular basis;
  • Bring forward issues that may be of concern to the Network;
  • Share experiences, best practices and lessons learned within the group;
  • Review documentation provided to the ESDC Employee Pride Network for consultation, and offer feedback in a timely manner; and,
  • Be accountable and responsible for completing action items as assigned, within prescribed timelines.

6. Governance

The ESDC Employee Pride Network will be managed by a Steering Committee of volunteersFootnote3 drawn from Network membership. The Steering Committee will share the responsibilities of promoting the Network and its objectives. The Steering Committee will generally be elected by the membership of the ESDC Employee Pride Network to serve for a two-year term.

Should a steering committee member miss three consecutive Steering Committee meetings without good reason, the member will be removed from the Steering Committee.

Should a position in the Steering Committee become vacant (for whatever reason) before that two-year term, the Co-Chairs may assign a person from the general ESDC Employee Pride Network membership for the duration of the term.

The ESDC Employee Pride Network Steering Committee structure includes the following roles:

ESDC Employee Pride Network Co-Chairs:

  • Co-ordinate the Canada-wide Network, promote the Network, and ensure that action items are tasked to Steering Committee members or identified members;
  • May invite, on behalf of the Network, subject matter experts at their discretion, or at the suggestion of Network members; and
  • Chair Network meetings and provide a record of decision to ESDC Employee Pride Network members subsequent to each meeting.
  • Promotes the Positive Space Initiative at ESDC by working, in collaboration with Human Resources Services Branch, to establish Positive Space training at ESDC that meets the objectives of the 2017-2020 Diversity and Employment Equity Action Plan.

ESDC Employee Pride Network Steering Committee members:

  • Attend and participate in the monthly Steering Committee conference meetings; and
  • Participate in committees and sub-committees created by the Steering Committee; and
  • Attend and participate in the quarterly ESDC Employee Pride Network meetings; and
  • Promotes the Positive Space Initiative at ESDC whenever possible.

ESDC Employee Pride Network Learning Events Co-ordinator:

  • Coordinates, monitors and reports on learning activities for the ESDC Employee Pride Network membership and for a broader ESDC audience; and
  • Supports other ESDC Employee Pride Network members with logistical and other considerations surrounding learning activities planning.
  • Reviews material on an annual basis.

ESDC Employee Pride Network Social Events Co-ordinator:

  • Coordinates, monitors and reports on social activities for the ESDC Employee Pride Network membership, and for a broader ESDC audience, and
  • Supports other ESDC Employee Pride Network members with logistical and other considerations surrounding social activities planning.
  • Reviews material on an annual basis.

ESDC Employee Pride Network Communications Co-ordinator:

  • Responsible for maintaining an ESDC Employee Pride Network presence on GCConnex and, in collaboration with the Human Resources Services Branch, on the departmental Diversity and Employment Equity iService site.
  • Coordinates Network communications (including, for example, intranet submissions) for a Departmental audience.
  • Written materials and communications for distribution outside of the ESDC Employee Pride Network membership should be submitted to the Communications Co-ordinator for approval by the ESDC Employee Pride Network Co-chairs.

ESDC Employee Pride Network Regional Representatives:

  • Each Region will appoint a minimum of two Regional Representatives, who will be responsible for ensuring the dissemination of information and supporting consultations with regional ESDC Employee Pride Network members on matters related to the Network, and organizing regional events.

ESDC Employee Pride Network Secretariat:

  • Distributes meeting invitations, agendas, records of decision, and other materials to Network members, as required.
  • Posts ESDC Employee Pride Network information, minutes, reports, etc., to ESDC intranet; and will submit to the Human Resources Service Branch, requests for posting of information on a dedicated space on the departmental Diversity and Employment Equity iService site.

Positive Space Initiative Advocates (all steering committee):

  • Raise awareness and encourages the inclusion of LGBTQ2+ persons and Allies.
  • Act as role models, speak positively about gender and sexual orientation diversity.
  • Offer confidential support and make referrals to available resources, when required.
  • Are peers committed to making ESDC a safe, inclusive space for everyone.

7. Meeting frequency

Formal meetings of the Canada-wide ESDC Employee Pride Network will be held quarterly, via teleconference.

Steering committee meetings will be held monthly, on the Wednesday of every second week.

Regional groups may choose to meet outside of this schedule at their own discretion.

Working groups or sub-committees may choose to meet outside of regularly scheduled meetings.

When necessary, ad-hoc meetings may be scheduled to deal with specific issues.

8. Language of Choice

Members of ESDC Employee Pride Network are encouraged to communicate with the membership in their official language of choice.

9. Communications

Communication strategy will be developed and posted to support ESDC Employee Pride Network and will be posted on Government of Canada platforms.

Any questions or requests for interpretation concerning these Terms of Reference must be addressed to the ESDC Employee Pride Network Co-Chairs.