Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Edmonton Woman's Tattoo Petition To Ottawa: Don't Discriminate On Tattoos, Piercings While Hiring

Lauren Larose The Canadian Press, 07 Oct, 2014 12:58 PM
    TORONTO - An Edmonton woman is advocating for Ottawa and Canadian employers to make it illegal to discriminate against potential employees because of body modifications like piercings, tattoos and hair colour.
     
    Kendra Behringer has collected nearly 1,200 signatures for her online petition posted on Change.org, but hopes to amass at least 3,000. 
     
    "Discrimination laws officially protect those of a certain race, religion, age, gender, marital status, family relation, and more recently sexuality has been added to that list. Let's add physical appearance to that list, including piercings, tattoos, and hair choice with the exception of threat to health and safety," reads the closing paragraph of the petition.
     
    Behringer, 24, has several visible piercings, including two eyebrow rings, two nose rings and three lip rings and a tongue ring. She currently works at a novelty store which she said has no policy against piercings and tattoos provided they aren't profane.
     
    "We have freedom of expression in this country, but not in the job industry," said Behringer, who is planning to study biological technology next fall.
     
    "The reason for that is it's different than attire where you can just change your clothes. You can't just change the colour of your hair and then change it back when you come home from work. And you take out your piercings, they close up throughout the day. And you can't just remove tattoos for the day."
     
    Danny Kastner, a lawyer who specializes in employment, labour and human rights law at Toronto firm Turnpenny Milne, said these types of esthetic characteristics aren't currently covered by any human rights legislation in Canada and he doesn't expect they will be in the near future.
     
    "I could see it being included, but I don't expect that it would be included anytime soon, because what it doesn't share is a history of serious social oppression that the other characteristics under human rights legislation do."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Four Arrested After Five People Shot In Toronto: Police

    Four Arrested After Five People Shot In Toronto: Police
    TORONTO — Four people have been arrested in a shooting in northwest Toronto that sent five people to hospital, one with life-threatening injuries, police said Thursday.

    Four Arrested After Five People Shot In Toronto: Police

    BC's 10-Year Transportation Plan Starts With Public Input

    BC's 10-Year Transportation Plan Starts With Public Input
    VICTORIA - Transportation Minister Todd Stone wants British Columbians to help build the transportation agenda for the next decade.

    BC's 10-Year Transportation Plan Starts With Public Input

    BC Man To Plead Guilty To Dangerous Driving In Death Of Best Friend

    BC Man To Plead Guilty To Dangerous Driving In Death Of Best Friend
     Charges of impaired driving causing death and dangerous driving causing death have been stayed against a B.C. motorist whose pickup truck rolled and killed his best friend.

    BC Man To Plead Guilty To Dangerous Driving In Death Of Best Friend

    Vancouver doctor and HIV/AIDS researcher to be inducted to Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

    Vancouver doctor and HIV/AIDS researcher to be inducted to Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
    VANCOUVER - A Vancouver doctor and world-renowned HIV/AIDS researcher has been selected for induction into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame.

    Vancouver doctor and HIV/AIDS researcher to be inducted to Canadian Medical Hall of Fame

    Puppy love: offers to help pour in after hunter rescues 20 pups in field

    Puppy love: offers to help pour in after hunter rescues 20 pups in field
    BATTLEFORD, Sask. - Twenty puppies abandoned in a Saskatchewan field and rescued by a hunter have made quite a splash at the Battleford Humane Society.

    Puppy love: offers to help pour in after hunter rescues 20 pups in field

    Some highlights from the fall 2014 report of Canada's environment commissioner

    Some highlights from the fall 2014 report of Canada's environment commissioner
    OTTAWA - Highlights from the fall 2014 report of Canada's environment and sustainable development commissioner, released Tuesday:

    Some highlights from the fall 2014 report of Canada's environment commissioner

    PrevNext