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Logger cites political discrimination in human rights tribunal hearing

Jan. 23, 2018 - B.C. logger Bryan Fraser was offered a job as a senior policy officer in the B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations in February 2015. One month later, his job offer was rescinded.

Now Fraser’s case is being presented to the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal as Fraser is claiming he was discriminated against based on his political beliefs regarding logging on the Haida Gwaii archipelago.

Section 13 of the Human Rights Code states that one’s political views cannot be a determining factor in offering employment.

The Ministry says that Fraser’s employment offer was revoked because it was discovered that he had been involved in a 2014 investigation by the Forest Practices Board regarding unethical logging on Haida Gwaii, and Fraser’s consequent “failure to disclose this relevant and pertinent information in the hiring process,” as stated in court documents to the tribunal.

From 2006-2010, Fraser was employed as a forester by Teal Jones, which was operating on Haida Gwaii. Fraser was also a resident and a property owner there.

As part of that job, Fraser sat on an industry stakeholder panel and voiced his views against conserving Haida Gwaii.

It was also during this period that the Ministry began public consultation for the Haida Gwaii Strategic Land Use Agreement (SLUA).

In information provided to the tribunal, Fraser said he expressed that the SLUA gave the Haida Nation oversight over several land values that he said “would probably not meet the case law test for an aboriginal right.”

The Ministry is denying any claims of discrimination and is seeking to dismiss the case.

January 23, 2018  By  Tamar Atik