Date: 20110421
Docket: T-1433-09
Citation: 2011
FC 485
Ottawa, Ontario, April 21, 2011
PRESENT: The Honourable Madam Justice Heneghan
BETWEEN:
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DETRA BERBERI
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Applicant
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And
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CANADIAN HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL AND
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CANADA (RCMP)
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Respondents
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REASONS FOR JUDGMENT AND
JUDGMENT
Introduction
[1]
Ms.
Detra Berberi (the “Applicant”) seeks judicial review of the decision of the
Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (the “CHRT” or the “Tribunal”), dated July 27,
2009. The Attorney General of Canada (the “Respondent”) represents the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police (the “RCMP”) in this proceeding.
[2]
In
its decision of July 27, 2009, the Tribunal granted an award to the
Applicant, pursuant to paragraph 53(2)(e) of the Canadian Human Rights Act,
R.S.C. 1985, c. H-6 (the “Act”) for pain and suffering, in the amount of
$4,000, together with the amount of $5,814 for legal costs, in connection with
a complaint that she had filed against the RCMP. The Applicant now seeks the
following relief:
The applicant makes application for: the
discriminatory complaint against the RCMP to be fully presented as the
Applicant did not have her “day in court.” The Applicant will be representing
herself and wishes to present the original complaint in precise detail. All the
evidence was not presented.
A job offer was made to a RCMP office
other than the one the Applicant was originally to be employed at however, the
time and distance to the other job location are significantly longer.
There was no compensation nor any kind of
relief offered in order to travel the extra distance to the Milton office.
Also, the Pain and Suffering aspect of
the complaint needs to be re-addressed as the monetary compensation of $4,000
was not justifiable considering what the Applicant has had to deal with for the
past 4 years.
Finally, the income loss, the Applicant
suffered, from 2005 to 2009 was not taken into consideration. The Applicant
should have been allowed to provide Income Tax Returns.
[3]
The
hearing of this application for judicial review was heard on October 20, 2010.
In a letter dated October 22, 2010, the Applicant sought to supplement the
arguments that she had made during the hearing. The Respondent was given the
opportunity to make submissions concerning the Applicant’s letter and advised
the Court that no further comment would be made.
[4]
The
Court did not request further submissions from the Applicant and she did not
obtain leave to file a supplementary record pursuant to Rule 312 of the Federal
Courts Rules, SOR/98-106. As such, the Applicant’s letter of October 22,
2010 will not be considered.
Background
[5]
The
relevant facts are taken from the Affidavit, including the several exhibits
attached thereto, filed by the Applicant in support of this application. In
addition to her Affidavit, the Applicant also filed some 22 tabbed documents,
some of which are also attached to her Affidavit. Documents that are not
attached to an affidavit will not be considered. Likewise, the Court will not
consider evidence that was not before the Tribunal. In this regard I refer to
the Federal Court of Appeal’s decision in Ontario Assn. of Architects v.
Assn. of Architectural Technologists of Ontario, [2003] 1 F.C. 331
(F.C.A.).
[6]
The
Applicant included the following request for the production of documents from
the Tribunal in her application for judicial review:
The applicant requests The Canadian Human
Rights Tribunal to send a certified copy of the following material that is not
in the possession of the applicant but is in the possession of the Canadian
Human Rights Tribunal to the applicant and to the Registry: All documents that
pertain to complaint T1311/4108 and that may have been submitted, without the
Applicant’s knowledge, particularly on or after June 01, 2009.
[7]
The
Court file contains a letter dated September 9, 2009 from Mr. Gregory M. Smith,
Registrar of the CHRT, objecting to the production of the documents requested
by the Applicant. In part, the letter provides as follows:
In addition, the Applicant, pursuant to
Rule 317(1) of the Federal Court Rules has requested the Tribunal to send to
the Court, as well as to the Applicant, a certified copy of the full record of
proceedings related to the Tribunal hearing.
This is to advise that pursuant to Rule
318(2) of the Court Rules, the Tribunal objects to the provision of these
documents.
Rule 317(1) of the Federal Court Rules
states:
“A party may request material relevant to
an application that is in the possession of a tribunal whose order is the
subject of the application and not in the possession of the party by
serving on the tribunal and filing a written request, identifying the material
requested.” (emphasis added)
The Tribunal is of the opinion that Rule
317(1) applies only to those documents which are not in the possession of the
Applicant.
It is the Tribunal’s understanding that
the documents requested in the Notice of Application are in the
possession of the Applicant (Detra Berberi). Accordingly, pursuant to Rule
317(1), the Tribunal is not obliged to present these documents to the Court and
the Applicant. This responsibility rests with the Applicant.
Having said this, the Tribunal
understands that during the course of hearings documents are sometimes written
on, or are otherwise marked, making them unsuitable for filing with the Federal
Court. The Tribunal is prepared to provide copies of these documents, at cost,
upon request [emphasis in original].
[8]
There
is no record in the Index of Recorded Entries or in the Court file that the
Applicant brought a motion to compel the production of any documents or
transcripts from the Tribunal.
[9]
The
Applicant is employed with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
(“HRSDC”) as a Client Service Consultant. In December 2004 she applied for a
permanent Administrative Assistant deployment position with the RCMP. At the
request of Corporal Mark DuPuy, she attended an interview for the position on
March 8, 2005.
[10]
On
March 10, 2005, the Applicant was advised by one Diane Mallett that she was the
successful candidate for the position.
[11]
On
May 18, 2005, Corporal DuPuy advised the Applicant that a new staff
sergeant had been hired and that the new staff sergeant wanted to meet her. The
Applicant attended at the RCMP office on May 25, 2005 to meet new Staff
Sergeant Mabee. She was interviewed about past absenteeism and about any
injuries that she suffered. The Applicant, in response to an inquiry as to her
willingness to disclose her personnel leave file from HRSDC, agreed to such
disclosure.
[12]
By
letter dated August 10, 2005, attached as part of Exhibit 6 to the Applicant’s Affidavit
filed in support of this application for judicial review, the RCMP advised the
Applicant that her application for the position would not be given further
consideration. The operative part of the letter provides as follows:
We regret to inform you that your request
for deployment to the above noted position will not be given further
consideration due to the fact that affected employees have been identified and
will, therefore, be given priority consideration.
[13]
The
Applicant claims that she did not receive this letter until much later, that is
in December 2005.
[14]
The
Applicant subsequently filed a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights
Commission (the “CHRC” or the “Commission”) in August 2006, alleging a discriminatory
practice, that is “refuse to employ”, on the basis of the prohibited ground of
disability, contrary to section 7 of the Act. In her narrative supporting her
complaint the Applicant outlined the history of her job application and
interviews with the RCMP, leading up to the letter of August 10, 2005, quoted
above. The Applicant’s narrative, in part, reads as follows:
I am a “duty to accommodate” and due to 2
motor vehicle accidents (in 1998 + 1999) I have been off and on due to my
injuries….
On March 10, 2005 I was advised that I
was successful and was thus offered the position .by [sic] Diane Mallett.
Staffing Officer – London, Ont….
On May 25, 2005 I was requested to meet
with the S/Sgt at the time. During this meeting the S/Sgt expressed his
concerns regarding my past illness and the times I had been off because of it.
He asked me to give my personnel officer, Marie Casey (SDC) permission for him
to go and look over my whole leave personnel file. I in fact complied with this
request and S/Sgt went to the Etobicoke SDC office and sat in an office with
Marie Casey and reviewed my whole leave file.
On August 10, 2005 a letter was mailed to
me advising me that I was in fact not being deployed to the RCMP CR 04 position.
I believe I was denied the CR 04 position
because of my disability and past absentism [sic].
[15]
By
letter dated May 25, 2009, Counsel for the RCMP advised the Tribunal as
follows:
Prior to the commencement of the hearing
in this matter scheduled to commence June 1, 2009, the respondent wishes to
admit the issue that the Tribunal would inquire into at that time: whether the
decision not to employ the complainant was in part based on a perceived
disability. The hearing could then proceed with the issue of damages alone and
significantly shorten the number of hearing days required.
[16]
A
hearing took place on June 1 and 2, 2009 before the Tribunal Member J. Grant
Sinclair. In its decision, the Tribunal reviewed the history of the Applicant’s
complaint. It noted that the RCMP had admitted that the decision to not employ
the Applicant “was based in part on a perceived disability”. It noted that the hearing
could proceed on the issue of remedy alone, and set out the Applicant’s
position as follows:
[32] At the hearing, the RCMP offered Ms.
Berberi an indeterminate CR-04 finance/administrative position at the RCMP
detachment in Milton, which is one of her
preferred locations. The only condition was that Ms. Berberi obtain a top
secret security clearance. The RCMP also offered to conduct a functional
ability assessment and provide the necessary accommodations to ensure that she
succeeds in this position.
[33] Ms. Berberi accepted this offer and
agreed that this satisfied her remedy request for a permanent position with the
RCMP. The parties agreed that no order from the Tribunal was necessary.
[17]
The
Tribunal reviewed the Applicant’s claim for lost income that she had calculated
on the basis of her earnings in 2007, 2008 and part of 2009, if she had been
awarded the RCMP position. She claimed $3,000 for 2007, on the basis that this
was the difference between the annual RCMP salary of $44,946 and the amount of
$41,474 that she was paid for her employment with the Government of Ontario.
[18]
For
2008, the Applicant claimed $14,000, being the difference between the RCMP
salary and $30,000 that she received from Sun Life as long-term disability
benefits.
[19]
The
Applicant claimed $4,000 to $5,000 for part of 2009 for the same reason. She
also sought recovery of contributions she would have made to her pension, the Canada
Pension Plan (“CPP”) and Employment Insurance (“EI”), as well.
[20]
According
to the Tribunal’s decision the Applicant argued that the “precipitating event”
underlying her claim for lost income for the years 2007, 2008 and part of 2009
was her “anxiety and panic attack on December 29, 2006”, which caused her to be
off work from that date until April 14, 2009. The Tribunal noted that the
Applicant argued that the panic attack was due to the failure of the RCMP to award
her the position for which she had applied, “which failure was based on a
discriminatory act”.
[21]
The
Tribunal rejected this argument and set out several reasons for doing so, in
particular the lack of medical evidence to support a causal connection between
the panic attack and the failure of the RCMP to offer her the job. The
Applicant’s claim for salary loss and collateral claims were denied.
[22]
The
Tribunal then addressed the Applicant’s request for compensation for pain and
suffering as a result of the discriminatory act. This compensation is
authorized by paragraph 53(2)(e) of the Act.
[23]
The
Tribunal referred to relevant jurisprudence, that is the decisions in Richard
Warman v. Kyburz, 2003 CHRT 18 and Woiden et al. v. Dan Lynn,
(2002), 43 C.H.R.R.C/296. In Warman, an award of $15,000 was made for
pain and suffering, together with another award of $15,000 as special
compensation for wilful and reckless conduct. The discriminatory behaviour in
that case consisted of the communication of “hate” messages on the
complainant’s website. The wilful and reckless conduct included persistent
efforts to interfere with the complainant’s employment and threats to his life.
[24]
The
Woiden case, according to the Tribunal, involved sexual harassment of
four employees by their supervisor which led three complainants to leave their
employment. The Tribunal noted that the complainants in Woiden settled
with their employer, which included amounts for pain and suffering, but the
Tribunal awarded $8,000 to three complainants, and $6,000 to the fourth, for
pain and suffering. The complainants in Woiden were also awarded $10,000
for the wilful and reckless conduct of the respondent.
[25]
In
this case, the Tribunal noted the Applicant’s evidence that she was “devastated
and depressed” when she learned that she had been rejected for the RCMP
position. He found that she had made no argument nor adduced any other evidence
that would justify her claim for $12,000 to $15,000 for pain and suffering. At
paragraph 55, the Tribunal made the following findings:
[55] Using the Warman and Woiden
cases as a measure, this is certainly not a case for an award in the upper
limit for pain and suffering. It calls for an award in the lower range. Taking
into account her evidence of the impact of the refusal of the RCMP to offer her
the deployment, and the fact that Ms. Berberi continued to work at the Brampton location after December 1,
2005 until March 2006 within her acceptable commuting distance from her home, I
award her the amount of $4,000 for pain and suffering.
[26]
The
Tribunal then addressed the Applicant’s claim for compensation for wilful and
reckless conduct by the RCMP, in engaging in a discriminatory practice against
her. This claim was rejected as follows, from paragraph 56 of the decision:
[56] Ms. Berberi also claims that, in
denying her application, the RCMP engaged in the discriminatory practise wilfully
or recklessly. She claims damages of $12,000-$15,000. It is true that Staff
Sergeant Mabee had concerns about her previous work absenteeism and that her
back problems could result in further significant absenteeism. This evidence,
however, goes to the issue of liability which the RCMP has conceded. It is not
enough to show wilful or reckless conduct.
[27]
The
Applicant also sought recovery of out-of-pocket expenses that she estimated to
be in the area of $1,000. These expenses were attributed to photocopying fees
and charges for doctors’ letters. In the absence of supporting receipts, this
claim was denied.
[28]
Finally,
the Applicant sought recovery of legal expenses. She submitted one account in
the amount of $614.25. This item was denied since the Tribunal was not
satisfied as to the nature of the legal services nor when they were provided.
[29]
The
Tribunal then addressed the issue of fees charged by the lawyer who represented
the Applicant in connection with the June 2009 hearing. According to the
decision, the lawyer provided a computer printout for legal work provided to
the Applicant from May 8, 2009 to June 2, 2009.
[30]
The
Tribunal noted that the lawyer was a senior Counsel, having been called to the
Bar in 1968. It also noted that the senior lawyer was assisted by a junior
lawyer whose hourly rate was lower. Finally, the Tribunal took into account the
fact that Counsel was not experienced in dealing with complaints under the Act
and that he had to familiarize himself with the Act and relevant jurisprudence.
At paragraphs 65 and 66 of its decision, the Tribunal made the following
conclusion:
[65] The RCMP admitted liability for the
discriminatory act thereby considerably shortening the scheduled hearing time.
In terms of the remedy that she was seeking, Ms. Berberi had limited success.
At the hearing, the RCMP agreed to provide Ms. Berberi with a CR-04 position at
Milton, one of her preferred locations. Other than that, of all the
compensation she was seeking, the only compensation that the Tribunal awarded
her was $4,000 for pain and suffering, an amount considerably less than the
$12,000-$15,000 she asked for.
[66] On the other hand, I agree with Mr.
Kostyniuk that the hearing was more efficient and focused than probably would
have been the case if Ms. Berberi had appeared unrepresented. Taking all these
factors into account, I award Ms. Berberi the sum of $5,814 for legal expenses.
Issues
[31]
In
this application for judicial review the Applicant raises several issues.
First, she argues that the Tribunal erred in not postponing the hearing of June
2009. Then she argues that it erred by only addressing the issue of remedies,
rather than reviewing her complaint in its totality. Next, she submits that it
erred by failing to fully address sections 7 and 53 and in failing to
compensate her accordingly.
[32]
Further,
the Applicant argues that the Tribunal committed an error by assuming that the
RCMP would act in good faith in following through with the job offer in Milton and in
processing a Security Clearance for her. Finally, she argues that her counsel
was incompetent.
Discussion and
Disposition
[33]
The
first matter to be addressed is the applicable standard of review.
According to the decision in Dunsmuir v. New Brunswick, [2008] 1
S.C.R. 190, decisions of administrative decision-makers are reviewable on one
of two standards, that is correctness or reasonableness. Questions of procedural
fairness will be reviewable on the standard of correctness; Canada (Citizenship
and Immigration) v. Khosa, [2009] 1 S.C.R. 339 at para. 43. Questions of
fact and of mixed fact and law are reviewable on the standard of
reasonableness; see Dunsmuir at para. 53.
[34]
The
Applicant argues that the Tribunal erred in failing to address sections 7 and
53 of the Act. Issues dealing with the interpretation of the statute that
governs the operation of the Commission and the mandate of the Tribunal are
subject to review on the standard of reasonableness; see Smith v. Alliance
Pipeline Ltd., 2011 SCC 7.
[35]
Further,
in its decision in Dunsmuir, the Supreme Court of Canada said at para. 57
that where prior jurisprudence has established the applicable standard of
review, that standard can be applied.
[36]
In
the present case, the Applicant raises some issues of procedural fairness and
the standard of correctness will apply to those issues. In my opinion, three
issues raise questions of procedural fairness and are reviewable on the
standard of correctness; that is the postponement issue, the alleged error of
the Tribunal in dealing only with the question of remedies, and the competency
of counsel.
[37]
The
matter of granting or denying a postponement of a hearing is a matter wholly
within the discretion of the Tribunal. The Tribunal is the master of its own
procedure; see Prassad v. Minister of National Revenue, [1989] 1
S.C.R. 560.
[38]
In
this case, there is no evidence regarding the Applicant’s request for a
postponement. There is no mention of such a request in the decision. There is
no transcript of the proceedings before the Tribunal. Although the Applicant’s
initial request for a transcript was denied by the Tribunal, the Applicant
could have brought a motion before the Court, seeking an order for the
production of materials by the Tribunal, including a transcript. She did not do
so.
[39]
In
the absence of evidence to support the Applicant’s submissions, I am not
persuaded that any breach of procedural fairness arose from the Tribunal’s
refusal to postpone the hearing.
[40]
The
Applicant submits that the Tribunal erred by dealing only with the remedy,
rather than reviewing her complaint in its totality. In other words, the
Applicant argues that the Tribunal should have considered whether the actions
of the RCMP constituted a discriminatory act.
[41]
I
have characterized the issue as one of procedural fairness because it relates
to the ultimate task before the Tribunal. Did the Tribunal do its job?
[42]
In
my opinion, that question must be answered in the affirmative.
[43]
The
record shows that in a letter dated May 25, 2009, Counsel for the RCMP advised
the Tribunal that the employer admitted to a discriminatory practice in
failing to hire the Applicant. This letter was sent mere days before the
commencement of the hearing on June 1, 2009.
[44]
The
Tribunal referred to this letter in its decision and further noted that counsel
“then suggested that the hearing into her complaint could proceed on the issue
of remedy”. I understand the Tribunal to be saying that Counsel for the RCMP
had suggested the hearing address only the issue of remedy.
[45]
It
is worth noting that the Applicant was represented by Counsel at the hearing in
question. In my opinion, if she had disagreed with the proposed manner of
proceeding, she could have made her views known through her Counsel.
[46]
However,
more importantly, the Tribunal’s decision to deal only with remedy was correct
in light of the fact that the employer, that is the RCMP, had admitted
commission of a discriminatory act. In these circumstances, it was unnecessary
for the Board to conduct a hearing on the issue of liability. There is no merit
in this issue as framed by the Applicant.
[47]
The
remaining issue of procedural fairness concerns the competency of counsel. The
Applicant alleges that her lawyer was unable to properly represent her since he
lacked experience in dealing with complaints under the Act.
[48]
The
Applicant has presented no evidence to support this allegation. She was
cross-examined upon the Affidavit that she filed in support of this application
for judicial review. The transcript of that cross-examination shows that she
had consulted at least three other lawyers before engaging the counsel who
represented her before the Tribunal. She expressed little confidence in at
least two of those lawyers.
[49]
The
test to be met when a party alleges incompetence of counsel amounting to a breach
of procedural fairness is discussed by the Supreme Court of Canada in R. v.
G.D.B., [2000] 1 S.C.R. 520, which held as follows at para. 26:
…For an appeal to succeed, it must be established,
first, that counsel’s acts or omissions constituted incompetence and second,
that a miscarriage of justice resulted.
[50]
In
my opinion, the Applicant has failed to establish either element of this test.
Her arguments on this ground must fail.
[51]
I
turn now to the remaining issues. The Applicant argues that the Tribunal erred
in failing to address sections 7 and 53 of the Act.
[52]
Section
7 of the Act provides as follows:
Employment
7.
It is a discriminatory practice, directly or indirectly,
(a)
to refuse to employ or continue to employ any individual, or
(b)
in the course of employment, to differentiate adversely in relation to an
employee, on a prohibited ground of discrimination.
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Emploi
7.
Constitue un acte discriminatoire, s’il est fondé sur un motif de distinction
illicite, le fait, par des moyens directs ou indirects :
a)
de refuser d’employer ou de continuer d’employer un individu;
b)
de le défavoriser en cours d’emploi.
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[53]
Subsections
53(2) and (3) are relevant and provide as follows:
Complaint
substantiated
(2)
If at the conclusion of the inquiry the member or panel finds that the
complaint is substantiated, the member or panel may, subject to section 54,
make an order against the person found to be engaging or to have engaged in
the discriminatory practice and include in the order any of the following
terms that the member or panel considers appropriate:
(a)
that the person cease the discriminatory practice and take measures, in
consultation with the Commission on the general purposes of the measures, to
redress the practice or to prevent the same or a similar practice from
occurring in future, including
(i)
the adoption of a special program, plan or arrangement referred to in
subsection 16(1), or
(ii)
making an application for approval and implementing a plan under section 17;
(b)
that the person make available to the victim of the discriminatory practice,
on the first reasonable occasion, the rights, opportunities or privileges
that are being or were denied the victim as a result of the practice;
(c)
that the person compensate the victim for any or all of the wages that the
victim was deprived of and for any expenses incurred by the victim as a
result of the discriminatory practice;
(d)
that the person compensate the victim for any or all additional costs of
obtaining alternative goods, services, facilities or accommodation and for
any expenses incurred by the victim as a result of the discriminatory
practice; and
(e)
that the person compensate the victim, by an amount not exceeding twenty
thousand dollars, for any pain and suffering that the victim experienced as a
result of the discriminatory practice.
Special
compensation
(3)
In addition to any order under subsection (2), the member or panel may order
the person to pay such compensation not exceeding twenty thousand dollars to
the victim as the member or panel may determine if the member or panel finds
that the person is engaging or has engaged in the discriminatory practice
wilfully or recklessly.
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Plainte
jugée fondée
(2)
À l’issue de l’instruction, le membre instructeur qui juge la plainte fondée,
peut, sous réserve de l’article 54, ordonner, selon les circonstances, à la
personne trouvée coupable d’un acte discriminatoire :
a)
de mettre fin à l’acte et de prendre, en consultation avec la Commission
relativement à leurs objectifs généraux, des mesures de redressement ou des
mesures destinées à prévenir des actes semblables, notamment :
(i)
d’adopter un programme, un plan ou un arrangement visés au paragraphe 16(1),
(ii)
de présenter une demande d’approbation et de mettre en oeuvre un programme
prévus à l’article 17;
b)
d’accorder à la victime, dès que les circonstances le permettent, les droits,
chances ou avantages dont l’acte l’a privée;
c)
d’indemniser la victime de la totalité, ou de la fraction des pertes de
salaire et des dépenses entraînées par l’acte;
d)
d’indemniser la victime de la totalité, ou de la fraction des frais
supplémentaires occasionnés par le recours à d’autres biens, services,
installations ou moyens d’hébergement, et des dépenses entraînées par l’acte;
e)
d’indemniser jusqu’à concurrence de 20 000 $ la victime qui a souffert un
préjudice moral.
Indemnité
spéciale
(3)
Outre les pouvoirs que lui confère le paragraphe (2), le membre instructeur
peut ordonner à l’auteur d’un acte discriminatoire de payer à la victime une
indemnité maximale de 20 000 $, s’il en vient à la conclusion que l’acte a
été délibéré ou inconsidéré.
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[54]
It
is not necessary for me to comment further on the manner in which the Tribunal
dealt with section 7 of the Act. The RCMP had admitted the commission of a
discriminatory act. As discussed above, no purpose would have been gained if
the Tribunal had proceeded to deal with the question of liability, in the face
of that admission. The Tribunal correctly went on to deal with the issue of a
remedy, including monetary compensation.
[55]
In
the first place, I note that subsection 53(2) authorizes the Tribunal, in its
discretion, to make an order against the person found to have engaged in a
discriminatory practice. That order could address several matters, including a directive
that the person stop the discriminatory practice; that the person offer
the injured party, on the first reasonable occasion, the rights, opportunities
or privileges that were denied as a result of the prohibited practice; and/or that
the injured person be compensated for lost wages, ancillary damages and for
pain and suffering.
[56]
Subsection
53(3) allows the Tribunal, again in the exercise of its discretion, to order
the payment of special compensation if the discriminatory practice was engaged
in a wilful or reckless manner.
[57]
The
Tribunal specifically addressed all of these elements. At the outset of the
body of its decision, the Tribunal recorded that the RCMP had offered the
Applicant an indeterminate CR 04 finance/administrative position at the RCMP
detachment in Milton, one of the places that the Applicant had designated as a
suitable workplace. The offer was accepted by the Applicant and according to
paragraph 33 of the Tribunal’s decision, the “parties agreed that no order from
the Tribunal was necessary”.
[58]
The
Tribunal carefully reviewed the components of compensation that are identified
in paragraphs 53(2)(c), (d) and (e). It determined that the Applicant suffered
no loss of wages as a result of the discriminatory practice engaged in by the
RCMP. The Tribunal provided clear and intelligible reasons in that regard at
paragraphs 39 to 45 of its decision.
[59]
In
the same way, the Tribunal carefully considered the Applicant’s claim to
recover out-of-pocket expenses. The reasons for rejecting that claim are clear and
the Tribunal properly noted that the Applicant had provided no evidence to
support this claim.
[60]
The
Tribunal considered the Applicant’s claim for compensation for pain and
suffering. It considered relevant jurisprudence. It assessed an award of
$4,000. This is less than the Applicant wants but she has not shown that the
Tribunal erred in making this award, particularly in light of the fact that paragraph
53(2)(e) of the Act sets a cap of $20,000 on an award for pain and suffering.
[61]
The
Tribunal also addressed the Applicant’s claim for special compensation pursuant
to subsection 53(3). Again, the Tribunal reviewed relevant jurisprudence,
including the facts at issue in those cases. I am not persuaded that the
Tribunal erred in the exercise of its discretion in dismissing this aspect of
the Applicant’s claim.
[62]
Finally,
I turn to the last issue raised by the Applicant, that the Tribunal had erred
in assuming that the RCMP would act in good faith in honouring the offer of a
job in Milton and in facilitating
the issuance of a Security Clearance. I have characterized this issue as one of
mixed fact and law, reviewable on the standard of reasonableness.
[63]
In
my opinion, the answer to this issue lies in the Tribunal’s acknowledgement at
paragraph 33 of the decision that the “parties agreed that no order from the
Tribunal was necessary” relative to the job offer that was made by the RCMP and
accepted by the Applicant.
[64]
The
Applicant was represented by counsel at the hearing before the Tribunal. She
had the option of requesting an order. She did not do so.
[65]
The
responsibilities of the Tribunal were discharged once the issues of remedy,
including compensation for pain and suffering and a contribution towards legal
fees, were adjudicated. The Applicant is at liberty to seek an order from the
Tribunal with respect to implementation of the remedy. She has failed to show
that the Tribunal made any assumptions on the basis of any error, and this
argument is dismissed.
[66]
In
conclusion, the Applicant is attempting to re-visit the proceedings that were
conducted by the Tribunal. She is asking this Court to “second guess” the
decision-maker. That is not the purpose of judicial review where the Court is
limited to a review of the procedures that were followed by the original
decision-maker, in this case the Tribunal. A judicial review application is
neither a trial de novo, with witnesses, nor an appeal where the Court
can substitute its own decision; see Bekker v. Minister of National Revenue (2004),
323 N.R. 195 (F.C.A.).
[67]
In
the result, this application for judicial review is dismissed with costs to the
Respondent. If the parties cannot agree on costs, brief submissions can be made
as follows:
(i)
by
the Respondent by April 27, 2011;
(ii)
by
the Applicant by May 2, 2011.
JUDGMENT
THIS COURT ORDERS AND ADJUDGES that the application for
judicial review is dismissed, with costs. If the parties cannot agree, brief
submissions, not exceeding 4 pages, to be served and filed as follows:
(i)
by
the Respondent by April 27, 2011;
(ii)
by
the Applicant by May 2, 2011.
“E.
Heneghan”