Oct 28, 2024 Story by: Editor
TORONTO — A Federal Court hearing began on Monday to decide whether a group of Black public servants can move forward with a class-action lawsuit that accuses the federal government of discrimination.
The certification hearing, held in Toronto, is expected to last up to 12 days.
The class-action lawsuit represents around 45,000 federal employees dating back to 1970, who are collectively seeking $2.5 billion in damages for lost wages and pensions.
“Today, we are escalating tactics,” said Nicholas Marcus Thompson, CEO of the Black Class Action Secretariat, speaking outside the courthouse. “State-sponsored discrimination is not acceptable.”
The plaintiffs allege extensive discrimination within the public sector, pointing to findings of anti-Black racism reported by the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal and documented in an internal report at the Privy Council Office.
They claim Black public servants have been systematically denied hiring and advancement opportunities due to racial discrimination, resulting in a hostile work environment and under-representation in senior positions.
The federal government has reportedly spent over $7.8 million opposing the class-action filed by Black civil servants. Unions have called on Ottawa to cease challenging the lawsuit and to address the concerns raised.
Federal officials have suggested that the plaintiffs could have presented their issues individually to the Canadian Human Rights Commission. Government ministers, however, have affirmed their commitment to dismantling barriers and ensuring equitable opportunities for Black employees.
A Senate report released last December on anti-Black racism within the Canadian Human Rights Commission identified a “crisis of confidence” in the commission’s capacity to handle human-rights complaints fairly and equitably.
The Senate study, which arose from grievances about the commission’s treatment of Black and racialized employees, noted that some employees were adversely affected by workplace discrimination, which can lead to lasting harm.
“It is never acceptable, yet it is a daily fact of life for many Black and racialized people in Canada,” the report stated.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh stood in solidarity with the plaintiffs in Toronto, urging the federal government to resolve the matter.
“Stop fighting workers in court, and settle this case,” he said. Source: CBC News
