Black staff at Global Affairs Canada allege systemic racism

By Canadian Press on October 22, 2025.

OTTAWA — A group representing current and former Global Affairs Canada employees who are Black say the department doesn’t take their complaints about racism seriously.

The Black Class Action Secretariat, which is mounting legal challenges claiming systemic racism and discrimination in the public service, has been appealing a broader case involving the entire public service.

The group is citing cases of Global Affairs Canada staff whose complaints were rejected by internal panels before being upheld by the courts or outside commissions, without compensation.

While the foreign service is undertaking reforms aimed at more merit-based promotion, the group of Black employees says the reforms don’t include independent panels outside the department.

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand says discrimination in any form is unacceptable and weakens the public service.

She says she is looking into at least one of the cases cited by the secretariat to address systemic issues within Global Affairs Canada.