Date: Fri, 13 Sep 96 11:43 PDT
From: egale@egale.ca (EGALE)
Subject: Canadian Human Rights Tribunal: No to pension benefits

The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal handed down a decision today on the case
of Lassoe v. Air Canada.  Niels Lassoe, an employee, was seeking benefits
for his same-sex partner.  The hearing focused on survivor pension benefits
since Air Canada agreed to offer other benefits before the hearing.

The Tribunal did not agree that Air Canada's position amounted to
discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act since the amendments
adding sexual orientation as a prohibited grounds of discrimination had not
yet been passed at the time of the complaint (or of the hearing).
Furthermore, the Tribunal felt it would be an unreasonable burden on Air
Canada to oblige them to offer pension benefits until the federal government
acted by amending the pertinent legislation (Income Tax Act, Pension Act).

The decision does not give employers the right to discriminate since the
amendments in question have now been passed.  EGALE continues its work to
have the government change all remaining legislation that continues to be
discriminatory on the basis of sexual orientation.

Copies of the decision may be obtained from the Tribunal in Ottawa
(613-995-1707).


====================================================================
EGALE                                                    
Equality for Gays and Lesbians Everywhere           Tel 613-230-1043
306-177 Nepean Street                               Fax 613-230-9395
Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0B4                               egale@egale.ca
CANADA                          http://www.egale.ca/~egale/egale.htm
====================================================================




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