More than 520 plaintiffs now part of Black public servants’ $900-million class-action lawsuit against government, as feds enlist Bay Street law firm
More than 520 current and former Black federal public servants are now part of a $900-million class-action lawsuit that is alleging decades-long government discrimination, lack of advancement opportunities, and harassment. Three months ago, there were 12 representative plaintiffs. After three months of waiting to hear from Ottawa, the suit’s leading lawyer says the government has […]
An open letter to federal Black employees
Dear federal Black employees, Thank you for your words of encouragement and support and for trusting me with your own stories. Your humanity is not to be negotiated and your voices are never to be silenced. Unfortunately, to work in the public service means as Black employees your value will be disregarded, your talents diminished […]
Daughters of the Vote and gender equality in Canadian politics: the journey continues
On Oct. 26, 2020, Canada hit a historic milestone when the 100th woman was elected to the House of Commons. This occurred when two women candidates won byelections, one in Toronto Centre and the other in York Centre, Ont. For the first time, 29.5 per cent of the Canadian House of Commons is made up […]
It’s time for a private-sector sunshine law
Kudos to The Globe and Mail for digging into the darker side of Bay Street’s dirty little secrets. In a series on workforce gender bias last week, the Globe published confidential information on the remuneration of partners in one of Canada’s largest business law firms. At Cassels, Brock & Blackwell LLP, female equity partners earn […]
The royal tea? Black women are never allowed to be part of the club
CALGARY—It’s possible that we’re starting to see the beginning of the end of the modern version of the British monarchy. Abolitionists are laughing in schadenfreude. Last week was a week from hell for the Saxe-Coburg-Gothas who are at the apex of British society and identity, despite their German bloodlines. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are […]
MPs, advocates urge more government action to combat ‘pandemic of anti-Asian racism’
Justin Kong, executive director of the Chinese Canadian National Council’s Toronto chapter, doesn’t want focus paid to his own experiences of racism, which he says most racialized people have experienced, instead emphasizing the importance of the country coming together to make things better. He, along with several Members of Parliament and advocacy groups, have called […]
‘Call it what it is’: Senators dissect white supremacy in anti-racism chat
Conversations about race and its impacts shouldn’t be watered down with the use of terms such as white fragility and white privilege, according to a group of Senators participating in Feb. 22 discussion about racial injustice, who say it should be called what it is—white supremacy. These terms, the Senators said, let white people avoid […]
‘It’s really me. I’m here, and I’m coming to social media’: Mark Carney starts promotional machine
Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney, who held the same job overseas in England, is dealing with coronavirus-wrought isolation in a way familiar to millions—by turning to social media. Mr. Carney, the UN special envoy for climate action and finance and “informal adviser” to the Trudeau government, returned to Twitter on Feb. 15, posting […]
The latest case of police racism is yet another travesty of justice
MONTREAL—Montreal is a great place to live. Unless you are a person of colour. Mamadi Fara Camara, a 31-year-old PhD student and instructor from Guinea, found this out on the evening of Jan. 28. He had been stopped by Montreal police for using a cellphone while driving, an offence he says he did not commit. […]
Black History Month has turned into HR blackface
CALGARY—Instead of organizations creating positive, inclusive environments to celebrate Black History Month with their employees, what has transpired is nothing less than an onslaught of microaggressions that would leave anyone disillusioned and depressed. Many organizations use their “celebration” of Black History Month to promote their minstrelsy. We are now into the first half of Black […]
