On June 10, the Canadian Association of Professional Employees (CAPE) joined Black Class Action Secretariat Executive Director Nicholas Marcus Thompson and CAPE member and representative plaintiff Bernadeth Betchi at a press conference to applaud the review of the Canadian Human Rights Commission by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions – a United Nations body – to determine its compliance with international human rights law.
In March 2023, the Treasury Board Secretariat found that there was discrimination and systemic racism at the Canadian Human Rights Commission. This decision was issued following a policy grievance filed in November 2020 by CAPE, and similarly by the Association of Justice Counsel and Public Service Alliance of Canada, which pointed to discrimination against their Black and racialized employees. The Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights report on anti-Black racism at the CHRC produced in December 2023 was even more damning and confirmed what CAPE already knew.
CAPE expects this review will compel the Canadian Human Rights Commission to change its policies and procedures, and that they take the clear action steps needed.
For more:
Press release
CAPE President Nathan Prier’s remarks delivered at the press conference
