B.C. tribunal allows complaint alleging sexual harassment on HandyDART bus to go to hearing
A B.C. tribunal is allowing a complaint alleging a HandyDART driver sexually harassed a passenger to proceed.
The decision to allow the complaint to go ahead, published by the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal last week, said a unnamed woman who uses a wheelchair claimed a HandyDART driver made inappropriate sexual comments and "invited her to sexual contact" in October 2019.
HandyDART is a service offered by some transit operators, like B.C. Transit and TransLink, that provides door-to-door transportation for people requiring mobility assistance. In this instance, B.C. Transit has a contract with another local transit company to operate HandyDART in the unspecified community.
The decision explained once the complainant gets on the bus, she is locked in and can't move until someone unlocks her chair and unbuckles her seatbelt for her.
"She submits that she was trapped into a secured wheelchair and was unable to move without assistance while on the bus," tribunal member Grace Chen wrote in her decision.
"She says she was vulnerable to the harassment due to her disability, and was trapped on the bus with the driver because of her disability."
According to the tribunal's decision, the complainant filed a grievance to B.C. Transit after the incident and was interviewed by a general manager. The tribunal heard that police investigated the incident, and decided no charges would be laid.
After being interviewed, the complainant said she didn't hear from the transit operator for several months, until she was told through a staff member at her residence that she had to ride with an attendant – at her own expense – if using HandyDART.
A general manager for the company operating the buses claimed the woman "made similar accusations against other people," which is why she was asked to use the service with an attendant.
Meanwhile, the woman alleged, the company wanted her "to sign an agreement stating that her complaint was false." Instead, she filed another complaint to B.C. Transit but didn't get a response.
"The complainant has not used HandyDART since February 2020, and uses public buses and taxis instead," Chen wrote.
"She says it is not because of the pandemic, but because she is afraid to run into the driver, and she feels humiliated and angry about what happened. She says she struggles to use the public bus service because of her wheelchair."
B.C. Transit requested the human rights complaint be dismissed, saying while it had a contract with the company operating HandyDART, it doesn't run the service itself. But the complainant said B.C. Transit "plays a role in delivering the service," and that her file was handled both by the HandyDART operator and the Crown corporation.
Chen wrote in her decision that B.C. Transit didn't persuade her the complainant won't be able to show a connection between the transit companies. While she said it doesn't mean the woman's human rights complaint will be successful, it's permitted to go to a hearing.
The allegations made by the complainant about the driver's actions have not been proven in court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Federal government grants B.C.'s request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces
The federal government is granting British Columbia's request to recriminalize hard drugs in public spaces, nearly two weeks after the province asked to end its pilot project early over concerns of public drug use.
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday at Donald Trump's hush money trial, describing for jurors a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had with him in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
MPs agree Canadian gov't should improve new disability benefit
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Trudeau's handling of Poilievre's 'wacko' House turfing a clear sign of Liberal desperation
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Liberal government not immune from auto thefts: 48 vehicles stolen in recent years
Documents tabled in the House of Commons this week show 48 government vehicles were stolen between January 2016 and February of this year, most of them in Ontario.
CFL suspends Argos QB Chad Kelly at least nine games following investigation
The CFL has suspended Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly at least nine games for violating the league's gender-based violence policy.