Auditor General Launches Urgent Study on Disability Hiring Practices

OTTAWA, Canada – Urgent update: The Office of the Auditor General of Canada has just announced a comprehensive study examining the recruitment, retention, and promotion of individuals with disabilities within the federal public service. This crucial audit is set to be tabled in spring 2026, following documents obtained by The Canadian Press.

The need for this inquiry is underscored by the latest employment equity report, which reveals that while the number of employees with disabilities in the federal public service has surged to 21,089 as of 2024, this figure still falls short of the government’s “workforce availability” benchmarks. Since 2020, there has been a steady increase from 12,893 in 2021 to 17,410 in 2023. However, the representation remains inadequate compared to eligible candidates in the national workforce.

Auditor General Karen Hogan emphasized the importance of understanding how policies impact employees with disabilities. The audit’s scope is still in the planning phase, with no detailed timelines available yet, but Hogan’s office has already informed Treasury Board Secretary Bill Matthews of the impending study.

Among the findings, the report indicates that 9.7% of federal executives are individuals with disabilities, a significant increase from 4.6% in 2019. Furthermore, in 2024, 2,517 public servants with disabilities were promoted, alongside 19,578 women, 8,115 visible minorities, 1,788 Black employees, and 1,642 Indigenous public servants.

Nathan Prier, president of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees, expressed hope that the report will examine the consequences of the government’s return-to-office mandate on workers with disabilities. The government has mandated that public servants return to the office for at least three days a week, a shift that many fear could lead to the loss of key talent. Prier stated, “We need to see how many workers with disabilities are leaving the federal public sector due to this mandate.”

The pandemic highlighted the effectiveness of telework for many individuals with disabilities, and Prier criticized the government’s recent push for in-office work as a setback. He pointed out that accommodations for these employees have not been adequately addressed during the transition back to the office.

In response, Rola Salem, spokesperson for the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, confirmed that the government is committed to creating an accessible public service. In 2024, the government successfully exceeded its goal of hiring 5,000 people with disabilities, welcoming the upcoming audit as an opportunity for further improvement.

The Employment Equity Act defines “persons with disabilities” as individuals with long-term or recurring physical, mental, sensory, psychiatric, or learning impairments who consider themselves disadvantaged in employment. This definition also includes those whose limitations have been accommodated in the workplace.

As this story develops, the impact of the auditor general’s study will be closely monitored. The findings could influence future policies and practices surrounding disability employment in Canada, making this a critical moment for advocacy and reform.

Stay tuned for updates as we follow this important story.