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27/06/2000

CHRC Refers Three Sex Discrimination Complaints to Tribunal

Ottawa - June 27, 2000 - Three women filed separate complaints with the Canadian Human Rights Commission claiming that Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) had discriminated against them because of their sex and marital status.

Katherine Popaleni of Dundas, Ontario, Pamela Janssen of Delta, B.C. and Helen McAllister-Windsor of Brockville, Ontario allege not receiving full entitlement of regular benefits because they had received maternity and parental benefits.

After Ms. Popaleni was laid off from her job as a clinical therapist, she applied for employment insurance benefits and her entitlement was set at 36 weeks. However, she says that HRDC reduced her full benefits because she had been pregnant and received maternity and parental benefits. Ms. Janssen, who had also been on maternity leave, was refused her full 40 weeks of employment insurance benefits. Ms. McAllister-Windsor also alleges that HRDC discriminated against her because of a disability. She has a medical condition which makes it difficult for her to carry a baby to full term. She says she was limited to 15 weeks of maternity benefits and only one week of parental benefits because she had to use sick benefits during her pregnancy.

The Commission has also asked that human rights tribunals look into the following complaints:

• Andrea Gould of Eskasoni, Nova Scotia filed a complaint with the Commission alleging that the Unama'ki Tribal Police discriminated against her on the basis of disability by denying her job opportunities. She says not having been considered for a position because the Unama'ki Tribal Police perceived her to be drug-dependent, even though she had not used drugs in 10 months. Although she had held the same position previously, she was not considered for the competition because she was told that she had not been drug-free for a sufficient period of time.
• Ruby Backlund of Moncton filed a complaint with the Commission alleging that her employer, United Parcel Service Canada Ltd., discriminated against her by failing to accommodate her disability. Ms. Backlund, who has lost the use of her left arm, was moved from a job she could do with the use of one arm into another job which required extensive use of both arms. She says her supervisor did not try to find her work that she could do.
• Grace Kelly-Hubbs of Victoria filed a complaint with the Commission alleging that her employer, the Canadian Forces, discriminated against her because of her family status. She says her supervisor threatened to terminate her employment if she did not accept an overseas mission. Ms. Kelly-Hubbs requested that she not be sent due to family circumstances. The mother of two young children, she had recently undergone surgery. In addition, since her husband was posted overseas she needed to leave the children with her parents despite her father's heart condition.
• John Stevenson of Vancouver filed a complaint with the Commission alleging that his employer, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, discriminated against him by terminating his employment because of his disability. Mr. Stevenson suffered from depression. He was asked to transfer to Ottawa only two years prior to retirement, even though a doctor opposed the move. His requests to have the transfer postponed were denied and he was released on medical grounds after 26 years of service.
• Karen McGlashan of Kingston, Ontario filed three complaints with the Commission alleging that her employer, Manitoulin Transport, discriminated against her on the ground of sex by failing to provide her with a harassment-free work environment. Ms. McGlashan worked for Manitoulin Transport for seven years and always received excellent performance reviews until she became pregnant. She says that it was only after she returned to work from maternity leave that her supervisor began harassing her and giving her poor performance reviews. She claims Manitoulin Transport has a practice of getting rid of female staff when they become pregnant.
• Myrna MacLean of Montague, P.E.I. filed a complaint with the Commission alleging that Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Treasury Board of Canada and Health Canada discriminated against her on the ground of disability by denying her job opportunities. Ms. McLean, who has a hearing impairment, says her employment as a steward with the Canadian Coast Guard was terminated after she failed a hearing test. She claims her hearing impairment does not present any risk in the performance of her job.
• Three complaints of discrimination on the ground of disability were filed against the Maritime Employers Association in Montreal. Yvon Rhéault and Jean-Louis Renaud of Montreal and Daniel Ouellette of Longueuil allege that the Association discriminated against them by refusing them work opportunities because of their visual impairments. Mr. Ouellette also alleges that the Association applies a discriminatory work policy.
• Gabriel Cavero, a longshoreman at the Port of Montreal, alleges that the Longshoremen's Union, CUPE Local 375 discriminated against him by taking reprisals against him because he had filed a complaint with the CHRC. Mr. Cavero maintains he had to stop work because of depression.

The Chairperson of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal will appoint tribunals to hear the complaints.

The Tribunal is an independent body responsible for adjudicating complaints referred to it by the Canadian Human Rights Commission. The Commission refers a complaint to the Tribunal when it believes further inquiry into a complaint is warranted.

For more information:

Jocelyne Limoges
Media and External Relations
(613) 943-9119