National

Rights Tribunal Awards B.C. Cop And Marijuana Advocate $20,000 For Hurt Dignity

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 22 Apr, 2016 12:55 PM

VICTORIA — A police officer who advocates for the legalization of drugs while off duty has been awarded $20,000 in a human rights case that pitted the officer against his employer, the Victoria Police Department.

The British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal sided with Const. David Bratzer, saying his employer interfered with his rights as a citizen to freely express his views and ordered the award for injury to dignity, feelings and self-respect.

Victoria Police acting Chief Const. Del Manak says in a statement that the department accepts the decision, will seek to learn from it and an appeal is currently not planned.

Bratzer filed the complaint against the department, saying it tried on numerous occasions to restrain his off-duty public advocacy for the group Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.

Bratzer's complaint noted police interference where he was directed not to speak at a federal Green party event on harm reduction and ordered not to comment to the media on the success of a Washington State marijuana referendum.

Bratzer has been a member of the Victoria police force since 2007.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Tom Mulcair Returns To The Commons After Emotional, Divisive Convention

Mulcair plans to remain at the helm of the NDP until a successor is chosen, up to two years from now.

Tom Mulcair Returns To The Commons After Emotional, Divisive Convention

Loonie Soars To Highest Level In Half A Year As Crude Prices Climb Above US$40

The trading week started Monday with a bang, as the Canadian dollar soared to its highest level in half a year on the back of rising crude and gold prices.

Loonie Soars To Highest Level In Half A Year As Crude Prices Climb Above US$40

Police Break Up Suicide Pact Of 13 Young People In Attawapiskat, Ont.

An aboriginal official in northern Ontario says a nine-year-old child and 12 other youths were overheard making a suicide pact Monday on a remote First Nation mired in a suicide crisis.

Police Break Up Suicide Pact Of 13 Young People In Attawapiskat, Ont.

Labour Groups Lobby Alberta For Universal Early Childhood Education Program

EDMONTON — Labour groups are lobbying Alberta's NDP government to set up universal early childhood education and child care.

Labour Groups Lobby Alberta For Universal Early Childhood Education Program

Parents Of Autistic Kids Demand Ontario Not Cut Five-year-old Kids Off Wait List

TORONTO — Dozens of parents of children with autism are at the Ontario legislature today demanding the government reverse a decision to defund intensive therapy for children five and older.

Parents Of Autistic Kids Demand Ontario Not Cut Five-year-old Kids Off Wait List

Final Cost Of 2015 Alberta Election Almost $19m: Chief Electoral Officer

He said costs went up due in part to Alberta's 10 per cent population increase and because then-premier Jim Prentice decided to drop the writ a year early.