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Ep 46: Red Tape vs. Rights—Why Inclusion Keeps Getting Stuck in the System
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Red tape can sound responsible until you realize it often means “wait your turn” while people keep getting hurt. This is Part 2 of my conversation with Jade Pichette, Director of Programs and Advocacy at Pride At Work Canada.
We’re continuing the conversation around what’s needed to modernize the Employment Equity Act in Canada and the frustrating gap between what governments say about inclusion and what they actually implement for LGBTQIA2S+ workers.
We also wrestle with the question that keeps coming up in policy rooms: how do you price out policy programs when the federal government hasn’t even collected the data to measure it properly? From census data and research gaps to committees, consultations, and the temptation to blame “the previous government,” we dig into how bureaucracy slows down workplace inclusion and why that delay is a political choice more than a technical one.
We also talk through the push for stronger accountability tools, including the idea of an independent equity commissioner, and why “common sense” without hard data points still matters when communities can describe the realities they face the moment they walk into a workplace.
Then we step back and look at the cultural side of change. We share what it’s like to find unexpected allies across party lines, why queer and trans rights debates feel more polarized right now, and why mainstream queer love stories, even in hyper masculine spaces like hockey, can be so powerful.
The thread that ties it all together is safety and economics: if you cannot be yourself at work, your opportunities shrink, and equality becomes theoretical.
This episode drops on International Transgender Day of Visibility—so take a moment to show up, speak out, and support the trans community.
Quick heads up—this episode was recorded on March 17, 2026.
And just a few days later, a major update was announced: the National Employment Equity Council was officially launched which brings together 20 labour unions, human rights, advocacy, and community organizations all working to modernize Canada’s employment equity act framework. It’s a step in the right direction and a reflection of years of collective advocacy to make sure Canada’s laws actually reflect today’s workforce.
Subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review.
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By Julia PennellaSend us Fan Mail
Red tape can sound responsible until you realize it often means “wait your turn” while people keep getting hurt. This is Part 2 of my conversation with Jade Pichette, Director of Programs and Advocacy at Pride At Work Canada.
We’re continuing the conversation around what’s needed to modernize the Employment Equity Act in Canada and the frustrating gap between what governments say about inclusion and what they actually implement for LGBTQIA2S+ workers.
We also wrestle with the question that keeps coming up in policy rooms: how do you price out policy programs when the federal government hasn’t even collected the data to measure it properly? From census data and research gaps to committees, consultations, and the temptation to blame “the previous government,” we dig into how bureaucracy slows down workplace inclusion and why that delay is a political choice more than a technical one.
We also talk through the push for stronger accountability tools, including the idea of an independent equity commissioner, and why “common sense” without hard data points still matters when communities can describe the realities they face the moment they walk into a workplace.
Then we step back and look at the cultural side of change. We share what it’s like to find unexpected allies across party lines, why queer and trans rights debates feel more polarized right now, and why mainstream queer love stories, even in hyper masculine spaces like hockey, can be so powerful.
The thread that ties it all together is safety and economics: if you cannot be yourself at work, your opportunities shrink, and equality becomes theoretical.
This episode drops on International Transgender Day of Visibility—so take a moment to show up, speak out, and support the trans community.
Quick heads up—this episode was recorded on March 17, 2026.
And just a few days later, a major update was announced: the National Employment Equity Council was officially launched which brings together 20 labour unions, human rights, advocacy, and community organizations all working to modernize Canada’s employment equity act framework. It’s a step in the right direction and a reflection of years of collective advocacy to make sure Canada’s laws actually reflect today’s workforce.
Subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review.