Status of Women Committee on Feb. 7th, 2013

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, York West, ON]

I might want to suggest since you are so active with your five days and your ten days that you should have a timeline for what you would consider to be the end of the process to resolve the issue. I just think it might continue on because timing is critically important in dealing with these issues.

I want to ask you again about what happens at the end of the day when an individual has clearly broken the kind of agreement you had with your employees as to a sexual harassment charge. What does it take to get dismissed? You mentioned to Ms. Young earlier that you want to resolve it, which is great. We all want to see these things resolved. When they are not getting resolved, then what? Is the employee dismissed?

[Vinay Sharma]

The employer has the responsibility to provide a harassment-free and safe workplace. Once an investigation has concluded, the conclusion goes to the human resources manager of the workplace. It's up to them to see what kind of remedy, punishment, discipline, or so on they are going to give. What our union's chairperson in that workplace will do is look at whether it is according to the collective agreement, and also to the preemptive ground that was breached in whatever way. We don't say there should be no punishment. If it's a clear case and there are no grey areas, there are definitely punishments. We have cases where people have been suspended for three months without pay, or depending on the severity of it, for more or less. Definitely, we as the union will stand with the person who has been victimized rather than the person who is doing it. We definitely look at that. Punishment is not always the solution, but in same cases it has to happen.

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, York West, ON]

Will you get back to us with the numbers from Ms. White as to the amount of complaints lodged from a sexual harassment perspective? Will you get those numbers back to the committee, please?

[Vinay Sharma]

Yes.

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, York West, ON]

Okay, thank you.

Thank you very much.

[Wai Young, Conservative, Vancouver South, BC]

May I ask an additional question?

[The Chair, NDP, Marie-Claude Morin]

Yes.

[Wai Young, Conservative, Vancouver South, BC]

Also, could you add in the figures in terms of how many were dismissed and how many were resolved? That would be interesting.

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, York West, ON]

As far as the disbursement of the total complaints that have been laid....

Mr. Sharma, is that okay? Can you get that back to the committee?

[Vinay Sharma]

I will try to get the best possible numbers that I can gather on all of those.

[Judy Sgro, Liberal, York West, ON]

That's great. Thank you.

[The Chair, NDP, Marie-Claude Morin]

Mr. Sharma, the committee clerk will be in touch with you to get those figures.

This ends the meeting with our second group of guests, because we have to keep the final 10 minutes for committee business.

Mr. Sharma and Ms. Turtle, thank you very much for appearing before us today. Have a good day.

I am going to suspend the meeting for one minute to give us time to move in camera.

Thank you.

[Proceedings continue in camera]