Human Rights Inquiry Rules Against Kentville Police

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION--Human Rights Inquiry Rules Against Kentville Police

A human rights board of inquiry has found that a former Kentville police constable was discriminated against when she was forced to leave her job with the Kentville Police Service after revealing she was pregnant.

Inquiry chair Gilles Deveau concluded that the police service and then-chief Brian MacLean failed in their duty to accommodate Const. Patricia Saunders when they became aware of her pregnancy.

In September 1999, Ms. Saunders, of Kentville, informed Mr. MacLean that she was pregnant and requested assignment to light duties. She was told none were available. Ms. Saunders claimed when light duties were not forthcoming she was left with no choice but to leave her job with the police service in December 1999.

The Police Association of Nova Scotia (PANS), which represents the town's police officers, told the inquiry that they had offered to support the Kentville Police Service in accommodating Ms. Saunders.

"Little effort was made (by the police service) to assemble a number of duties and functions on a temporary basis in spite of the persistent and formal offer of support and co-operation from PANS in searching for ways of accommodating Ms. Saunders," wrote Mr. Deveau in his final decision.

The chair ordered Kentville Police Service to:

• compensate Ms. Saunders for lost wages for the period from Dec. 17, 1999 to May 17, 2000 (the time when she would have left on maternity leave);

• consider Ms. Saunders for the first vacant position matching her qualifications;

• pay Ms. Saunders $2,000 in general damages for emotional stress and anxiety;

• develop a workplace policy concerning pregnant police officers.

Mr. Deveau has retained jurisdiction over the matter should the parties be unable to agree on the details for a policy.

Boards of inquiry are the final stage in the human rights complaint process. They are independent, public hearings into complaints of discrimination.

The full text of the inquiry's decision is available on the Human Rights Commission's website at www.gov.ns.ca/humanrights .