The Canadian Government has announced a far reaching legislative program which includes a bill to outlaw discrimination because of race, color or religion in industry under Federal regulation. This measure will extend this principle, already effective for firms doing government work, to industries such as railways, shipping and air transport that are under Federal jurisdiction.
Previously the government had issued an order-in-council under which it became illegal to discriminate against any person in regard to employment because of that person’s race, national origin, color or religion.
All contracts entered into after the first of Janury,1953, on behalf of the Government of Canada will include a clause to this effect. It is hoped that this legislation will also greatly influence the field of private industry where such discrimination is rampant. Many Jewish professionals, especially engineers, have had to seek employment outside the country since their race and religion was found objectionable by some private concerns.
The promulgation of the order-in-council followed representations made to the government for legislations outlawing religious and racial discrimination in employment. The national conventions of the major labor congresses in Canada had advocated Federal regulation to this effect and memoranda on this point have recently been submitted to the government by labor groups, the Canadian wish Congress, the Jewish Labor Committee, and other proponents of civil rights.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
