Public Service Alliance of Canada BC

Human Rights Committee Minutes September 12th, 2007

*In attendance: Members: Wandy, Tracy (chair of meeting), Carol (minute taker), Kim, Sargy, Craig Staff: Janelle*

Continue reading below or download the Human Rights Committee meeting minutes - Sept 12 2007 (pdf)

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The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has been in the works for two decades. It calls for world-wide measures to address the widespread hardship, poverty, and human rights violations against Indigenous Peoples around the world.

• Sign the online petition
• Write to Harper urging the Government of Canada to stop opposing the UN Declaration.

The Declaration was adopted by the newly formed UN Human Rights Council in June 2006. But the Declaration has not yet been adopted by the UN General Assembly. Canada supported the Declaration in the past, but is now among a handful of states pressing for further negotiations … despite the fact that 20 years of negotiations have already taken place.

Such negotiations will only delay - and quite possibly weaken - a human rights instrument critical to the survival and well-being of some of the world’s most impoverished, marginalized and frequently victimized peoples.

PSAC has joined the list of over 22,000 organizations and individuals who are pushing for the immediate adoption of the UN Declaration.

Are you a PSAC member from the Aboriginal, Racially Visible, Persons with Disabilities or GLBT groups? Would you like to meet with other members from these groups for group discussions and are you interested in taking some training?

The next Human Rights Committee meeting is scheduled for 5:30PM - 7:30PM at the Vancouver RO, 200 - 5238 Joyce Street.

Agenda

• Access Conference report-back
• CEIU National HR Conference report-back
• Poster contest
• Planning for annual HR dinner

Please RSVP to Vancouver RO, 604.430.5631 as a light dinner will be served. On site childcare, and / or participation from other areas via conference call is available. Please call the Vancouver RO for details.

<small>via BC Federation of Labour</small>

John Graham faces extradition to the United States without any evidence having been presented to a Canadian judge - find out why at a public forum:

• Thursday August 23rd, 7:00 pm
• YWCA Hotel, 733 Beatty St. (two blocks south of Stadium Sky Train)

For more information visit GrahamDefense.org

Roy Mah passed away on June 22, 2007 at the age of 89.

Mah was born in Edmonton in 1918. In 1943 at the age of 25, Mah was recruited as a union organizer for the IWA while still a history student at the University of Victoria. He was also the Secretary of the Chinese Youth Association in Victoria.

Even though he was born in Canada, Roy and thousands of other Chinese Canadians were not recognized as citizens. Roy attended a segregated school in Victoria and instinctively rebelled against inequality and other forms of discrimination.

As an IWA organizer, Roy began organizing workers of Chinese origin into the Victoria local of the IWA. He traveled up and down the Coast organizing workers in such places as Duncan, Youbou, Nanaimo, Comox, and Port Alberni.

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The following job opportunity for 9 (nine) Racism Prevention Officers has been posted as of May 23rd. Note the posting is open for only 3 days due to an anticipated high volume of applicants and will close May 25th. Please circulate to your networks.

• Racism Prevention Officer
• Department Name: Department of Human Resources and Social Development
• Locations: Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Halifax, and Montréal.
• Classification: PM - 04
• Salary: $56,496 to $61,047 (per annum)
• Closing Date: May 25, 2007 - 23:59, Pacific Time Useful Information
• Reference Number: CSD07J-007655-000251
• Selection Process Number: 2007-CSD-EA-NHQ-NLOD-19095
• Employment Tenure: This is a full time permanent position. A pool of qualified candidates will be established and may be used to staff similar term and/or permanent positions.
• Vacancies: 9

For further information visit jobs.gc.ca.

Source: The Vancouver Courier, May 11, by Cheryl Rossi-Staff writer

When families who were affected by the Chinese Head Tax celebrate 60 years of citizenship Saturday, they’ll be recognizing how far they’ve come in gaining rights and respect for Chinese people in Canada.

But according to Sid Tan, co-chair of the Head Tax Families Society of Canada, they’ll also highlight problems migrant workers face today as echoes of what their families endured.

“The issues of guest workers, the issues of seasonal and temporary employment, live-in caregivers and domestics, all these issues are not that different from what the early Chinese suffered,” said Tan. “These are people that are good enough to come to Canada and do the dirty and menial work or the work that a lot of Canadians won’t or aren’t willing to do, and they have no rights. There’s something wrong with the picture, and a hundred years ago this is what happened to the Chinese.”

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“Farmworkers are Canada’s forgotten workers. They work in the fields and harvest the crops that feed us. They work in slave-like conditions for 12-14 hours a day and are paid piece rate. They travel in overcrowded buses to the fields or live in converted chicken coops. Many suffer chronic health problems because of exposure to pesticides during every working day.” - CFU spokesman Charan Gill, June, 1994

When farmworkers in British Columbia’s fertile Fraser Valley started organizing in the 1970s, the main issues were low pay, poor housing, unsafe working conditions, exclusion from labour and safety legislation, lack of childcare and racial discrimination. Those are still the major issues today for the 28,000 workers in the fields.

• Related: New regulations important step to protect farmworkers from employer abuse, says Sinclair, but they remain second-class citizens
• Related:BC farmworkers deserve protection not exploitation

Just outside Vancouver, considered one of the world’s “most livable” cities, farmworkers, mostly immigrants from Punjab, India, and most of those women, work long hours in the open fields harvesting the food we eat. They work in the third most hazardous industry in the province, behind logging and mining. The mortality rate is seven times higher than in the manufacturing sector.

Read (lots) more at www.vcn.bc.ca/cfu/

Burnaby, B.C. – Over fifty concerned Canadians vowed to take immediate action to condemn the rapidly deteriorating situation of human rights and democracy in the Philippines last night at a local community forum, “Building People to People Solidarity.”

Here are some more photos.

Kay Sinclair, Regional Executive Vice-President of the B.C. Region for the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), one of the evening’s co-sponsors, cited the growing concern of trade unionists over the worsening political repression in the Philippines.

The Philippines is considered the second most dangerous country for trade unionists (second to Colombia). Since 2001, 83 workers, trade unionists, leaders and advocates have been killed. They are part of the documented 855 extra-judicial killings since 2001.

• Send an email to the Canadian & Philippine governments, demand justice and human rights now!

“We encourage our members to write letters to the Philippine President to protest the government’s recent arrest of Bayan Muna (People First) Congressman Satur Ocampo - a progressive opposition party parliamentarian.”

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Vancouver, B.C. - The recent arrest of Philippine Congressman Satur Ocampo and the intensifying human rights violations and political repression in the Philippines has sparked international concern, including that of Canadian labour unions.

• Click to send an email message to the Philippine Government calling for justice and human rights in the Philippines.

The B.C. region of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), one of Canada’s largest unions, is co-sponsoring a forum “Building People to People Solidarity” to coincide with the Permanent People’s Tribunal: Second Session on the Philippines (which is occurring in the Netherlands). This forum will be held Thursday, March 22, 2007 from 7-9 p.m. at the Bonsor Recreation Complex, 6550 Bonsor Ave. in Burnaby.

Kay Sinclair, Regional Executive Vice-President of the PSAC for B.C. shares, “We need to build awareness amongst our members and other trade unionists about the grave political situation, for trade unionists and other activists, in the Philippines.”

“It is part of our effort towards international solidarity,” adds Sinclair.

The forum expects to gather around 100 people including trade unionists, members of the local Filipino-Canadian and Indigenous Filipino community and other human rights activists and concerned Canadians.

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Today is the United Nations (UN) International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It’s a day observed all around the world to focus attention on the need to promote racial harmony. The UN made this designation in 1966 to mark a tragic event that took place on March 21, 1960 in Sharpeville, South Africa, when 69 peaceful demonstrators were killed during a protest against apartheid. Here is  the PSAC Statement on March 21st:

In the current context of globalization, deep integration of our economies and the war against terrorism, people of colour and Aboriginal peoples suffer racism that subject them to economic, political and social marginalization.

Adequate resources should be allocated to Aboriginal communities for their housing, education, medical, and other social needs and should be a government priority. However, the Federal 2007 Budget did not allocate any specific funding for Aboriginal communities even though they are among the most disadvantaged in Canada which is well known internationally Canada has been repeatedly called upon to address the oppression and systemic barriers faced by Aboriginal peoples.

As well, racialized people from Arab and Muslim communities are increasingly being portrayed in stereotypical and negative ways in our communities and workplaces since September 11, 2001. Anti-terrorism measures have been put in place and implemented that specifically target certain communities. It has become more acceptable to consider limits to religious accommodation, particularly accommodation of people from the Muslim faith, because they are contrary to “Canadian values.”

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Update: The CLC has informed us the conference has been postponed. We will provide the new dates as soon as we receive them.

“Building our Power – Building our Presence”: CLC 3rd Aboriginal Forum and 3rd Aboriginal/Workers of Colour Conference

The face of Canada and our workplaces is changing like never before.Over the next twelve years, the canvas of Canada will undergo an unprecedented change, particularly for Aboriginal and communities of colour. The demographic projections are powerful.

The Aboriginal population is growing more than twice as fast as the rest of the population in Canada. Among First Nations and the Métis, 50 percent of the population is younger than 18. Among the Inuit, 50 percent of the population is younger than 15. No other Canadian source of labour can begin to meet the rising needs of numerous trades and professions over the long term.

For communities of colour, the next dozen years will also see a dramatic rise in numbers. By the time Canada celebrates its 150th birthday, one in five persons will be a person of colour. Similarly, the new Canadian labour force will see more young people of colour than ever before. Consider that Generation X (18-34 year olds) is a cohort of 20 million persons and 20 percent are of colour. Generation Y (5-15 year olds) is the most racially diverse cohort in Canadian history, with one in three a person of colour.

Now is the time to build on our growing numbers, power and political potential.

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Annual Human Rights Day Dinner & Forum

• December 8^th
• dinner @ 5:45 PM
• dessert @ 7:00 PM
• Maritime Labour Centre, Boardroom 3, 111 Victoria Drive at Triumph

Join the Public Service Alliance of Canada BC Human Rights Committee and Agriculture Union Equal Opportunities Committee for dinner at this annual event …

Our speakers:

• Todd Wong: Save Kogawa House, Japanese internment and gunghaggisfatchoy.com
• Sid Chow Tan: Head tax update
• Sargy Chima: The Komagata Maru
• Carol Pegura: same-sex school curriculum update
• Mabel Elmore: World Aids Day (December 1^st)
• David Dennis: Vice-President, United Native Nations

Tickets for the traditional turkey or vegetarian dinner are $18, drink and dessert only tickets are $6. (the BC Human Rights committee will subsidize tickets for committee members). For more information - Jennie Chu at (778) 230 3987

Request: Please check your closets for spare, clean, blankets, jackets and socks. The Committee will collect these and donate them to the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre. It’s cold out there, and these items are always in need.
Please RSVP before Dec 7^th to (604) 430 5631 or braggp@psac.com.

Via Nick Humphreys, Political Action Committee

Amnesty International Announces 5th Annual Human Rights Film Festival: University of Victoria to host this very special 3 day event from November 17-19

Victoria, BC: In spite of the increasing influence of human rights organizations around the world, and the improved flow of information to and among concerned citizens, tragic abuses continue to occur with alarming frequency. Amnesty International is committed to shining a light on these events through these sometimes stark, but always honest, films capturing the reality we face.

• November 17,18,19
• Location: University of Victoria David Lam Auditorium (MacLaurin Building)
• Tickets: All screenings by donation. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
• more information: www.amnestyfilmsvictoria.ca

Now in its fifth year in Victoria, the event has seen a remarkable increase in attendance and is now the second largest Amnesty Film Festival in the nation. It is a showcase for talented filmmakers who work against long odds, short finances and threatening politics to bring to the screen powerful stories of human struggle, sacrifice and triumph. This year, the festival is honoured to present eight exceptional and timely new films of global importance, with guest speakers introducing and discussing content and implications.

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Via PSAC BC Human Rights Committee

This is the office building I work in. It would be good if the Union (PSAC) or union’s EO committee could issue a statement in support of the demand for name change. If not, then UEW. - Anne Marie Sleeman, UEW 20729

Japanese-Canadians want MP’s named removed from building: Accuse Howard Green of racist remarks in ’30s, ’40s

Japanese-Canadians are demanding Ottawa change the name of a building it named after a former Conservative MP known for his racist remarks in the 1930s and ’40s.

They say that honouring Howard Green is wrong and that Ottawa should change the building’s name.
“I was pretty shocked myself,” said Prof. Roy Miki at Simon Fraser University and author of Redress: Inside the Japanese Canadian Call for Justice.

“From a Japanese-Canadian point of view, he was one of the most feared politicians in Canada because he was pretty relentless in his hatred of Japanese-Canadians.”

Public Works Minister Michael Fortier announced in September that an eco-friendly federal building at 401 Burrard St. would be named after Green. A dedication ceremony was held at the 19-storey building, whose tenants include Environment Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

“Howard Green exemplifies the notion of service to one’s country,” Fortier said at the time.

But yesterday, after criticism from Japanese-Canadians, Fortier said he will ask a volunteer committee that recommended the name to review its recommendation.

Fortier, who made the final decision, was not aware of Green’s past of making racist remarks, ministry spokesman Jean-Luc Benoit said.

The volunteer committee of community representatives evaluated more than 350 names and gave Fortier a short list including Green and Rosemary Brown, a former MLA and human-rights advocate, Terry Fox, artist Toni Onley, Pierre Trudeau and W.A.C. Bennett.

Mary Kitagawa, a member of the Greater Vancouver Japanese Canadian Citizens Association for Human Rights, said she wrote to Fortier in September asking for Green’s name to be erased from the building.

“What we want to do is have that name removed from that building because to us, he is not a hero by any measure,” said Kitagawa.

The National Association of Japanese Canadians has also written to Fortier and Prime Minister Stephen Harper asking for Green’s name to be removed from the building.

Newspaper stories from the ’30s and ’40s document Green’s campaign to oust Japanese-Canadians from B.C.
“Our stand is, and always has been, that we won’t have Japs in the province,” Green said in a Province article dated May 27, 1945. “The Liberal policy is to scatter them; the CCF want to scatter them and give them the vote. If they ever get the vote, nothing more will be done about them.”

In a Province article dated April 22, 1946, Green “warned of the danger that all Japanese might again be back on the coast.”

A Vancouver Sun article on May 17, 1945, quotes Green as saying “the Japs must never be allowed to return to British Columbia.”

The Public Works Ministry said earlier Green was chosen because he was a strong advocate of nuclear disarmament. He was also a First World War soldier and the second-longest serving MP from Vancouver, elected 11 times in Vancouver South and later Vancouver Quadra.

He died in 1989 at age 93.

source: Vancouver Province, Oct 25, pg A14.

via PSAC BC Human Rights Committee

Cracking the visible minority ceiling: Corporations face talent shortage, major study to target barriers

They helped women crack the glass ceiling in corporate Canada. Now, they want to do the same for visible minorities.

Catalyst Canada, a group that exposed the barriers to advancement for women at the highest corporate levels, announced yesterday the launch of a groundbreaking study into the problems facing talented minority employees who want to get ahead.

While not the first organization to examine this problem, the non-profit research group said it would take a deeper, broader look at an issue of emerging significance to employers, executive director Deborah Gillis said yesterday.

“What we know is Canada is facing a significant talent shortage. Many of our best-educated employees are getting ready to retire. We also know the face of Canada is changing,” Gillis said.

“If you combine the retirement of boomers with the fact that in less than 10 years visible minorities are going to represent one in five members of our workforce, we know this is a fundamental issue for Canadian business.”

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via PSAC BC Human Rights Committee
Vancouver BC - The Head Tax Families Society of Canada (HTF), successor group to the BC Coalition of Head Tax Payers, Spouses and Descendants (BC Coalition), will observe the turnaround of the Chinese head tax/exclusion redress struggle with a public forum. Invitees include Greater Vancouver Members of Parliament from the three parties represented in the House of Commons, the BC Attorney General and Minister of Multiculturalism, the three Chinese Canadians sitting on Vancouver City Council and other elected officials.

• When: 11:00am Saturday, November 25, 2006
• Where: Chinese Cultural Center - Dr. David Lam Hall, 50 East Pender Street, Vancouver

“Outside Inside” refers to last November 26 when several hundred people set up an information line in Chinatown. It attended outside a closed redress conference funded by the government at the Chinese Cultural Center and a photo opportunity for Prime Minister Paul Martin at United Chinese Community Enrichment Social Services (SUCCESS). This “on the streets” action is now considered by many in the redress movement as a seminal moment in the redress struggle.

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Via Terri Lee, PSAC National EOC member: “sounds like a great demonstration is brewing on Tuesday. It sounds like a great opportunity to let Harper know what we think of him. Members who are interested should be encouraged to attend with the PSAC banner, pro childcare, public service, etc.”

• TUESDAY OCTOBER 10, 2006 @ 5 pm
• GATHER: NE CORNER OF COLOMBIA AND KEEFER
• CHINATOWN MONUMENT FOR CHINESE RAILWAY WORKERS

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is visiting Vancouver on Tuesday October 10 for a dinner organized by businessman Johnny Fong geared towards increasing trade, business, and investment with China. Although presented as a “direct dialogue with Vancouver’s Chinese Canadians”, a number of community-based Chinese-Canadian organizations and other grassroots groups have of course not been invited to this dinner. So we have decided to invite ourselves!

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Maher Arar’s courageous voice has quietly demanded answers to simple questions about the events that have forever changed his life.

Why was he detained by US border authorities more than four years ago, when he attempted to re-enter Canada from a family vacation abroad?

How was it possible that a Canadian citizen could subsequently and quietly be whisked to Syria, held against his will and tortured by Syrian Military Intelligence and imprisoned for nearly one year?

What role did Canadian government officials play in his wrongful detention,arrest and torture?

What did Canadian officials do to protect and seek the return of a citizen of Canada?

Last week, more than four years after his ordeal began, he finally got answers to his questions.

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Public servants in Canada are less likely to be visible minorities than workers in the private sector and that is worrisome, says a report released Tuesday.

The report was released by the country’s Public Service Commission, an independent agency that is supposed to ensure Canada’s public service is competent, non-partisan and representative of the population.

Maria Barrados, president of the commission, found three main areas of concern in this year’s report:

• the “unmonitored movement” of employees between positions in the civil service and positions in ministers’ offices
• the underrepresentation of visible minorities in the public sector
• questionable ways temporary staff gained longer-term and permanent positions

In one of its main concerns, the report found that in 2005, fewer minorities worked in the public service than worked in the private sector.

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