How are we working together?
The Ministry of Labour continues to make steady progress in aligning its work with the principles of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. Engagement to date indicates that, while this work is recognized as important, First Nations and Indigenous partners are currently focused on other priorities. The ministry will continue to maintain dialogue and seek opportunities to engage as interest and timing align.
The ministry has conducted recent consultations on proposed legislation (e.g., eliminating sick notes and job-protected leaves); however, this has resulted in limited feedback from First Nations and Indigenous partners to date. This may reflect the broad application of labour statutes, which are designed to apply to all workers in the province, including Indigenous workers.
The ministry’s statutorily mandated services—delivered through the Employment Standards Branch (ESB), Workers’ Advisers Office (WAO), and Employers’ Advisers Office (EAO), are designed to serve workers and employers across the province rather than specific communities or sectors.
Outreach efforts, including WAO-led education and training opportunities, have also not generated responses to date.
The ministry continues to identify appropriate and proportionate engagement approaches with Indigenous partners and organizations that serve Indigenous Peoples, particularly in relation to legislative and regulatory initiatives.
Are there challenges?
ESB, WAO and EAO are statutorily mandated to deliver services to all workers, their dependents and employers across the province, including Indigenous Peoples.The broad scope and general applicability of labour law that impacts all workers and employers, requires wide ranging engagement to reach all potentially impacted Indigenous workers and employers has had limited success in engagement to date.
Outreach efforts, feedback and participation from First Nations communities and Indigenous partners have been limited, noting other engagement priorities such as health care, child welfare, housing and resource development.
Internal capacity constraints have also affected implementation. The ministry, particularly ESB, is currently experiencing significant workload pressures and operational backlogs. As a result, staff and resources are focused on meeting legislated service delivery obligations, which limit flexibility and available capacity to undertake additional engagement activities to ensure that services are meeting the needs of Indigenous worker and employers.
Highlights
During the reporting period, the ministry made meaningful progress in building internal capacity to support reconciliation, with a particular focus on culturally informed and trauma informed service delivery.
In fall 2025, WAO and EAO engaged Len Pierre Consulting to deliver training on trauma and equity informed practice to all staff. This initiative strengthened staff awareness and understanding of trauma informed approaches, while deepening cultural awareness and sensitivity in relation to Indigenous Peoples and other marginalized groups. The training equipped staff with practical tools to better support Indigenous clients and to provide services in a respectful, safe and responsive manner, aligning with Declaration Act principles of dignity, respect and inclusion.
In addition, EAO and WAO have continued their practice of integrating reconciliation into workplace culture through annual staff learning breaks recognizing key dates of significance, including Red Dress Day, National Indigenous Peoples Day, the Moose Hide Campaign, the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation and Indigenous Veterans Day. These learning opportunities foster reflection, shared learning and ongoing dialogue and demonstrate wise practices in embedding reconciliation into everyday organizational practices rather than limiting it to formal engagement activities.
Collectively, these initiatives represent tangible progress in strengthening organizational readiness, enhancing cultural competency and supporting reconciliation from within the ministry, positioning staff and programs to engage meaningfully and effectively with Indigenous partners as opportunities arise.