The Black Class Action Secretariat (BCAS) holds a news conference in Ottawa alongside several unions and non-profit organizations to discuss the next step in their joint efforts to combat systemic discrimination in the federal public service.
Nicholas Marcus Thompson (executive director of the BCAS) announces that the coalition is filing a formal complaint against the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) for its discriminatory practices. The coalition is calling for a special review by the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, the international body that accredits human rights institutions. The groups are also calling for other measures that include amending the Canadian Human Rights Act.
Alain Babineau (Red Coalition), Chris Aylward (Public Service Alliance of Canada), Hodan Ahmed (senior United Nations fellow and Black Canadians Civil Society Coalition), Shanique Victoria Edwards (Canadian Black Nurses Alliance) and Jason MacLean (National Union of Public and General Employees) also speak with reporters.