Status of Women Committee on Feb. 7th, 2013

Evidence of meeting #57 for Status of Women in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was workplace.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Sexual Harassment in the Federal Workplace

Committee Business

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Mary Dawson Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner

Denise Benoit Director, Corporate Management, Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner

Paula Turtle Canadian Counsel, United Steelworkers

Vinay Sharma Director of Human Rights, Canadian Auto Workers

12:45 p.m.

Liberal

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?

12:45 p.m.

Director of Human Rights, Canadian Auto Workers

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.

12:45 p.m.

Liberal

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?

12:45 p.m.

Director of Human Rights, Canadian Auto Workers

Vinay Sharma

Yes.

12:45 p.m.

Liberal

Judy Sgro Liberal York West, ON

Okay, thank you.

Thank you very much.

12:45 p.m.

Conservative