A. W. J. Noble
Executive Assistant to the Chief Commissioner
Office of the Chief Commissioner
Ontario Human Rights Commission
Dundas/Edward Centre
180 Dundas Street West, 7th Floor VIA FAX AND MAIL
Toronto, Ontario M7A 2R9
Dear Sir:
The Ontario Labour Relations Act
We are writing to you to request that you examine and review recent proposed amendments to the Ontario Labour Relations Act which provide for card-based certification in the construction industry.
While the Ontario Federation of Labour supports the amendments which will allow employees in the construction industry to effectively exercise their freedom of association, the OFL is concerned that the failure to extend card-based certification to other sectors of the workforce will create discriminatory effects which are inconsistent with the intent of the Human Rights Code.
The Human Rights Code extends a right to equal treatment with respect to employment to all employees without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination on the basis of sex and other grounds. By extending card-based certification to only one employment sector made up predominantly of males, we are concerned that women in Ontario will be discriminated against in that they will not have the same freedom of association in respect of their employment.
As a result, we would request that you review the legislation and make recommendations to the appropriate committee so as to ensure that the legislation extends protection to all Ontario workers and avoids any discriminatory effects.
Sincerely,
WAYNE SAMUELSON
President
E. Birkett-LaValley
I. Harris
OFL Executive Board and Council
OFL Labour Relations Committee
E. Poskanzer, Sack Goldblatt Mitchell