T.O.'s Indigenous consultant quits amid human rights complaint
By Jenny Yuen, Toronto Sun
First posted: Friday, September 22, 2017 05:52 PM EDT | Updated: Friday, September 22, 2017 07:27 PM EDT
A woman hired as an Indigenous-affairs consultant for the city has resigned after a short stint and filed a human rights complaint against her former employer.
Lindsay Kretschmer — a Mohawk Wolf Clan member — worked in her full-time position at the city for four months before she quit, claiming the city violated her right to practise smudging, which involves sacred medicine as part of Indigenous ceremony.
She then filed a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal.
Kretschmer could not be reached for comment Friday.
Mayor John Tory’s spokesman Don Peat referred media inquires over to city spokesman Wynna Brown as the case is considered a “personnel matter.”
“Mayor Tory is committed to continuing to build positive relationships with Toronto’s Indigenous communities. He recognizes there is still much work to be done,” wrote Peat in a statement.
“The mayor will keep advocating for the city to continue to build strong, meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities.”
Brown said Friday the city has formally responded to Kretschmer’s application and takes issue with her allegations and looks forward to the opportunity to present its case through the tribunal process.
“Beyond this, the city will not speak further to this personnel matter,” she said. “We emphasize, that while there is still much work to be done, the city is committed to continuing to build positive and effective relationships with the city’s Indigenous communities and to support the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action.”
jyuen@postmedia.com
T.O.'s Indigenous consultant quits amid human rights complaint | Toronto & GTA |
By Jenny Yuen, Toronto Sun
First posted: Friday, September 22, 2017 05:52 PM EDT | Updated: Friday, September 22, 2017 07:27 PM EDT
A woman hired as an Indigenous-affairs consultant for the city has resigned after a short stint and filed a human rights complaint against her former employer.
Lindsay Kretschmer — a Mohawk Wolf Clan member — worked in her full-time position at the city for four months before she quit, claiming the city violated her right to practise smudging, which involves sacred medicine as part of Indigenous ceremony.
She then filed a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal.
Kretschmer could not be reached for comment Friday.
Mayor John Tory’s spokesman Don Peat referred media inquires over to city spokesman Wynna Brown as the case is considered a “personnel matter.”
“Mayor Tory is committed to continuing to build positive relationships with Toronto’s Indigenous communities. He recognizes there is still much work to be done,” wrote Peat in a statement.
“The mayor will keep advocating for the city to continue to build strong, meaningful relationships with Indigenous communities.”
Brown said Friday the city has formally responded to Kretschmer’s application and takes issue with her allegations and looks forward to the opportunity to present its case through the tribunal process.
“Beyond this, the city will not speak further to this personnel matter,” she said. “We emphasize, that while there is still much work to be done, the city is committed to continuing to build positive and effective relationships with the city’s Indigenous communities and to support the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action.”
jyuen@postmedia.com
T.O.'s Indigenous consultant quits amid human rights complaint | Toronto & GTA |
