Introduction

The primary objective of contracts is to receive the deliverables contracted for, and to be able to use those deliverables for Government of Canada activities. The Government of Canada's Contracting Policy further states that officials are to achieve best value for money and to seek the optimal balance of benefits to the Crown and the Canadian people through its purchases. As part of this commitment, the Government of Canada has made specific provisions for social and economic development objectives to be pursued through procurement. One of the socio-economic objectives pursued through contracting is employment equity. The Federal Contractors Program on Employment Equity sets out a framework for meeting these objectives.