FYI:Interessantes aus Kanada

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FYI:Interessantes aus Kanada

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Dirk8 J.8, Edmonton / Alberta

395353

Datum

04.04.2007 19:38 MSG-Nr: [ 395353 ]

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Richmond fire dept. may exclude white men
Updated Sat. Mar. 3 2007 10:38 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

The Richmond, B.C. fire department is reportedly planning a major overhaul of its hiring policy by populating its ranks exclusively with women and minorities over the next five years.

A two-page leaked internal document stated: "We would see this as an ongoing initiative until the community is aptly represented in the department."

According to the Richmond Review community newspaper, the department has posted internal bulletins in local fire halls instructing all copies of the document be destroyed.

When asked to comment specifically on the controversial plan, Fire Chief Jim Hancock--the author of the new proposal--told CTV News, "No, I'm sorry I can't."

Of the 191 active members of the department, only eight are visible minorities. The community itself is largely made up of Chinese Canadians, yet there isn't a single member of Chinese descent on the force.

While a lack of visible minorities is a pressing issue, the real motivation behind the new hiring policy appears to be an attempt to address allegations of harassment.

Early in 2006, all four female firefighters from Richmond Fire-Rescue walked off the job, complaining of workplace harassment.

Karen White is one of the Richmond firefighters who left the force after 14 years with the fire service, nine of them with Richmond. She said she endured a workplace that included co-workers who didn't want to work with women as well as exposure to pornography. She also alleges she was personally threatened and had her gear tampered with.

"There just came a time when I drew the line," she told CTV. "I was definitely harassed and I was an observer of some pretty horrendous harassment as well."

White says the proposed new hiring policy would not fix the problem and would only create the public perception that the department is lowering physical fitness standards.

What's more, if the service lowered standards, it would create resentment within other members of the force.

"If the standards are in any way lowered, that's problematic," she said. "I think acceptance into that culture is critical for longevity in the fire department."

Union representative Tim Wilkinson told CTV News the union is open to the change. However, it would insist the physical standards required should remain the same.

"We're not reducing any standards. And if we don't reduce any standards and we can bring people in and make them feel inclusive, then we're all for it."

The final version of the hiring plan, which drew inspiration from Halifax and Phoenix fire departments, has yet to be drafted or submitted to council. City council is expected to get it within the next few weeks. The public will see it in the following months.

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie sees the current make up of the department as troublesome.

"I'm concerned with the lack of diversity" Brodie told CTV. "We wish, in the end, to have a diverse work force that reflects our community."

White says the force definitely needs to hire more women and minorities but they need to do it in an equitable way, hiring only "the best candidates for the job," and not excluding men on principle.

"Excluding anybody is problematic and that's why the standards have to be fair and equitable," she said. "So that's my hope: that the hiring will be fair and equitable."

With a report from CTV's Todd Battis and files from The Canadian Press

Stay safe brothers.

Dirk
________________________________________
Firefighting is all about ass - busting ours to save yours. ~Author Unknown

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