Halifax releases report on workplace racism and harassment amid calls for inquiry

TheHalifax Regional Municipality has released a progress report on discrimination and racism in the workplace, amidst calls from current and former employees for an independent inquiry intobullying and harassment.

The city's chief administrative officer released the updateMonday afternoon,daysafter a promised deadline,looking at the progress on90 recommendations from a 2016 report on employment policies and practices.

"I made it very clear to those who report to me...that racial discrimination and harassment in this workplace is not acceptable. And we will take action each and every time," said CAOJacquesDub.

In recent months, a number of public protests and human rights rulings have highlighted the levels of discrimination in a number of city departments, including Metro Transit, the fire service and the publicworks department.

61%of recommendations completed

Of the 90 recommendations, the progress report says 61 per cent have been completed.

"We're making good progress,"Dubsaid.

Some of the items that are 'at risk' of not being completed include creating an employment equity policy and programwhich would collect and analyze workforce data and address under-representation.

The city also hasn'tprovided a guide to managers and staff to ensure they aren't discriminating in their hiring practices.

HRMalso hasn't changedthe way reference checks are being conducted. The2016 report recommended the city clearly outline the number of references that needto be checked for internal and external candidates.

City plans to hire external consultant, start confidential hotline

For its part, the city says itplans to payan external consultantin the next 75 days to review its human resources practices and processes to prevent racial discrimination and harassment.

"Recommendations from that report will be used to inform an action plan that we will share with the mayor, regional council, and all employees,"Dubsaid.

Dub also promiseda confidential employee hotline will be up and running by mid-July.

"We need to make sure every time there's an investigation that involves workplace rights...that [staff]will be asked to respond to what they've done to stop and prevent harassment and discrimination alleged in any complaint.And that report needs to come to me."

Former city councillor says independent inquiry needed

Former Halifax councillor Jackie Barkhousesays at this point,an independent inquiry is needed to root out racism and abuse in the workplaces with theHRM.

"It was my opinion then and it is still my opinionthat we're dealing witha systemic problem.I was aware of it and it was real.It wasn't gossip," she said.

Barkhousewas a municipal councillor ten years ago, and saysshe tried to deal with problems of bullying and harassment.

"Ialways believed that people would eventually make public some of the concerns that I was hearing about," she said."It really was just a matter of time before Halifax was on the radar."

Barkhouse recently helped create Equity Watch, a non-profit organization set up to fight discrimination.

"We know what we need. We need an independent review that's done outside of HRM not something that's done in house," she said.

"Andwe need it to be made public."

Dubesaid he'snot convinced an inquiry is necessary at this time.

"I think if we can get some independent advice with a strong mandate to get to thetruth, to get to the facts and come back with some recommendations that will be helpful," he said.