Intro & list of abbreviations /
List of pages /
Previous page /
Next page
What we got: The details
Federal employment rights
Issues of the right to work for the federal government and its agencies became part of broader anti- discrimination efforts. See Federal human rights protection. For details on two specific (and very intransigent) agencies, see separate pages on the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Only two early stories are noted below.
1977
- TBP May 77: Fox suggests security clearances OK for open gays. Solicitor
general Francis Fox, in letter (undated) responding to NGRC (see Nov 76 in
RCMP), says: "Being an overt or publicly professed homosexual would in
no way prevent an individual from competing and being considered for employment in any
government department or agency." Implication is seen to be that "closeted gays would
have difficulty with security clearances because they could be 'exploited' or
'compromised.'" NGRC says it will seek clarification.
- TBP Jun 77: No rights for Gays (quintessential TBP headline!). In committee
debate on the Canadian Human Right Act (date not given), justice minister Ron Basford
cited national security as justification for exclusion of sexual orientation from the Act. Seen
to be prompted by recent case of Barbara Thornborrow (see Canadian Armed
Forces). But Basford is also reported to have said that homosexuality is not a
bar to employment in the public service.
Intro & list of abbreviations /
List of pages
Previous page (Immigration) /
Next page (Divorce & child custody)
What we demanded; What we got (Summary
on Federal employment rights)
