Suchit v. Sisters of St. Joseph's
1983-02-17
CHRR Doc. 83-035
Christopher Suchit Complainant
Sisters of St. Joseph's for the Diocese of Toronto in Upper Canada Respondent
Date of Decision: February 17, 1983
Place: Toronto, Ontario
Before: Ontario Board of Inquiry, Frederick H. Zemans
Appearances by: Janet Minor, Counsel for the Ontario Human Rights Commission and Christopher Suchit J.F. Fitch, Counsel for the Sisters of St. Joseph's for the Diocese of Toronto in Upper Canada
RACE, COLOUR AND PLACE OF ORIGIN — employment denied — DISCRIMINATION — intention to discriminate — mixed motivation — REMEDIES — employment hiring practices to be reviewed
Summary: The Board of Inquiry finds that Christopher Suchit, who is a black man of East Indian origin, was discriminated against because of his race when he was refused the position of Director of the new detoxification centre at St. Joseph's Health Centre. The board accepts Mr. Suchit's evidence that during his interview for the position he was asked questions regarding his ability to handle racial situations and racial slurs, questions that were not asked of white candidates. The Board also finds that Suchit's qualifications were comparable to those of the white candidate who was appointed and no non-discriminatory explanation was afforded for the hospital representative's decision to offer the position to the white candidate without checking references.
The board rules that discrimination was a factor in the decision not to hire Mr. Suchit and awards him $3,350 in lost wages and $750 in general damages.
Complaint of Mr. Christopher Suchit
1The complainant in this hearing, Mr. Christopher Suchit, is a black man of East Indian origin. He alleges that he was discriminated against because of his race, colour, ancestry and place of origin, in his application for employment to St. Joseph's Health Centre, 30 The Queensway, Toronto, Ontario, contrary to paragraphs 4(1)(b) of The Ontario Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1980, c. 340, as amended. I was appointed to chair a Board of Inquiry into the matter by the Minister of Labour, Honourable R.H. Ramsay, on March 24, 1982. Pursuant to this appointment, a public hearing commenced on November 1, 1982 and continued on November 2nd and 3rd, 1982.
2Mr. Suchit's complaint is directed at St. Joseph's Health Centre, its servants and agents. It was consented at the outset of the hearing, however, that the respondent be properly styled as the Sisters of St. Joseph's for the Diocese of