The federal government has tripled the number of Black mental health professionals available to public servants and launched three new programs targeting career development, conflict resolution and digital skills, according to an update released Wednesday on Canada’s Action Plan for Black Public Servants.
The number of Black counsellors in Health Canada’s Employee Assistance Program has grown to 122 as of December 2025, up from roughly 40 when the program launched. The EAP serves more than 90 federal departments and agencies, with supports available to Black public servants and their immediate family members.
“The Government of Canada is committed to fostering a safe, healthy, and inclusive workplace where the success of Black public servants is recognized and supported,” said Treasury Board President Shafqat Ali
Leadership pipelines expanding
Federal leadership development efforts for Black employees have grown significantly across multiple streams. According to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat:
- Executive Leadership Development Program: 50 Black executives have completed the program; 47 more are on track to finish by April 2026, bringing the total to 97 graduates
- Aspiring Directors Program: 92 management-level employees will complete the program by March 2026
- Leadership Development Program for Black supervisors and managers: 204 participants enrolled between September 2025 and February 2026, with 105 more joining before the end of the fiscal year
- Career Counselling and Coaching: 199 Black public servants have received services to date, with 200 more continuing into the new fiscal year
Official language training reaches 1,200
The Second Official Language Training Initiative has supported 1,200 Black public servants, with access for an additional 800 employees planned for the coming fiscal year. The program offers self-directed online learning, part-time instructor-led sessions and mental health supports including coaching on linguistic insecurity.
Three new programs launched
The action plan has added three new initiatives. The Supporting Future Innovators Program provides Black public servants with access to learning programs tied to the government’s digital transformation work. The Building the Pipeline initiative trains staff in the offices of Ombuds and Informal Conflict Management Services at three federal agencies to improve conflict resolution supports for Black employees.
The Black Mental Health Webinar Series, a partnership between the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, launched to provide what the government describes as culturally safe and trauma-informed spaces for Black public servants and allies.
Representation data
During the 2023-24 fiscal year, Black public servants represented 5.0 per cent of the core public administration, and 3.0 per cent of the executive group self-identified as Black, according to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat. The government’s Employment Equity in the Public Service report notes that Black employees remain over-represented in the $50,000 to $74,999 salary range and under-represented in all salary ranges between $75,000 and $250,000.
Funding and oversight
Budgets 2022 and 2023 committed nearly $50 million to create and implement the action plan. The Task Force for Black Public Servants, established in June 2023 within the Office of the Chief Human Resources Officer, leads the work from design through to implementation.
