Okay.
The bill strips the tribunal of any jurisdiction in relation to allegations of violations of the Canadian Human Rights Act in the workplace for federal public service workers, granting exclusive jurisdiction to the new board. Under the present federal human rights scheme, a finding of discrimination against an employee may attract a direction that the employer cease the discriminatory practice and take measures, in consultation with the Canadian Human Rights Commission, to redress the practice. This power is not provided to the PSLREB in Bill C-4.
The proposed legislation will extend the discretion to dismiss grievances on the basis that they are considered trivial, frivolous, vexatious, or made in bad faith to the employer. Traditionally this was a power granted to independent bodies, like the CHRT or the PSLRB. It's unprecedented to give the employer this ability to unilaterally dismiss grievances before they're even heard. Don't be surprised if there's an increase in the number of grievances that end up in front of this new board for that very reason.
In conclusion, Bill C-4 erodes the associational rights of public servants to fair collective bargaining and their individual rights to prompt, efficient, and unbiased dispute resolution.
Division 17 constitutes an unjustified violation of the freedom of association guaranteed by the charter and is unconstitutional.
Divisions 17 and 18 should be separated from Bill C-4 to allow for proper consultations with stakeholders so that a true modernization of labour relations in the federal public service can take place, as opposed to proceeding with this regressive proposed legislation.
Thank you.