News
‘Canadian-style systemic racism’: Black public servants file suit against federal government
By Charelle Evelyn December 3, 2020
Proposed class-action lawsuit alleges Canada’s application of the Employment Equity Act violates the Charter equality rights of Black employees.
Nicholas Marcus Thompson, left, is one of the representative plaintiffs in a proposed class-action lawsuit against the federal government. Former senator Donald Oliver, middle, has long championed the idea of a new federal government Department of Diversity headed by a Black deputy minister, and before leaving politics former MP Celina Caesar-Chavannes, right, introduced a bill in the last Parliament to change the Employment Equity Act. Photograph courtesy of Twitter, The Hill Times file photograph and photograph by Andrew Meade
The Canadian government has failed to uphold the Charter rights of Black employees in the federal public service, shirking its responsibility to create discrimination- and harassment-free workplaces, and actively excluding Black bureaucrats, allege plaintiffs in a proposed class-action lawsuit.
Related Stories
In defiance of O’Toole, Saskatchewan MPs vote to back Batters in regional caucus: source
In a regional caucus meeting Thursday evening, Saskatchewan MPs voted overwhelmingly in support of Senator Denise Batters' staying in the Saskatchewan caucus.
Alexa McDonough and the cost of blazing trails
Alexa McDonough, who died on Jan. 15 at the age of 77, was the second woman to lead the federal NDP from 1995 through 2006; a time, her former colleagues recall, in which women in politics faced much sexism. Ottawa on the hook for $4-billion tied to abandoned mines’ cleanup in the North
NDP MP Lori Idlout says the Liberals need to hold companies accountable. ‘Our communities can’t continue to be disregarded when the profit is gone and we’re left to clean up the mess.'Agriculture Minister Bibeau has a new acting chief of staff, Jérémy Gauthier
Other changes to the minister’s staff lineup this Parliament include Emerson Vandenberg’s promotion to policy director, and Allison St-Jean’s hiring as communications director.‘Against the flow’: critics question move by Canada’s Pension Plan Investment fund to keep supporting big polluters
But the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board remains wary of any attempts to write climate concerns into its mandate.‘In a perfect storm right now’: labour supply, record immigration complicate daunting housing supply problem, say experts
Canada welcomed more than 401,000 new permanent residents in 2021, 341,000 permanent residents in 2019, and was able to admit more than 184,500 over the course of 2020 despite the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.‘We should respect each other’: South Africa says notification not given before travel ban imposed
A Global Affairs spokesperson says the South African High Commission was notified on the same day that the travel ban was announced, which the mission disputes.Three years on, Canada delays naming an ambassador to the Holy See
Not having an ambassador to the Holy See sends a symbolic message, say former Canadian diplomats, but it may not make a practical difference compared to having the post represented by a chargé d'affaires. Lobbyists concerned potential rule changes could hinder volunteer opportunities in campaigns
Proposed changes to the Lobbyists' Code of Conduct include a mandatory one-year cooling-off period for lobbyists following political activities such as door-to-door canvassing during an election campaign.Trending Stories
