Commission to Examine File

The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission has asked a Halifax law firm to assess the commission's handling of a recent complaint investigation.

"The purpose of the assessment is to give the commission a commentary on how it is doing its job," said Mayann Francis, executive director of the Human Rights Commission. "While staff of the commission perform their duties in a professional manner, the results of the assessment will be used by the commission as it strives to continue to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of staff, particularly human rights officers conducting interventions and investigations."

The assessment will focus on how the commission conducted an early meeting, or intervention, to try and settle the situation before it became a formal complaint. As well, it will look at how the subsequent investigation into the complaint was handled.

The assessment is expected to be completed by May 31. Brian Johnston of the law firm Stewart McKelvey Stirling Scales will lead the assessment.

In the complaint, Elizabeth Smith of Amherst, N.S., alleged she was asked to refrain from breastfeeding her infant son in Chintzy's, a Halifax fabric store, in the spring of 1998 by store owner Jan Bird. The complaint was based on protections for gender and family status in the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act. A settlement was announced in January 2000, which remains in place.

It is in the interests of transparency, accountability and a commitment to providing good service to the public for the assessment to take place, Ms. Francis said.

As well, the commission will soon be announcing a policy on how it will accept complaints based on breastfeeding. Meetings with stakeholders are being planned as part of that process.