The first human rights bill in the western Canada province of Alberta was introduced in the Alberta Legislature by the government.
It bars denial of accommodation, public services or other facilities or denial of employment to anyone because of race, color or ethnic origin. The measure also would prohibit reference to racial, ethnic or religious origin in advertisements for employment, except for a domestic servant or when the employer is a religious, philanthropic, educational or similar type of organization.
Trade unions and employers’ organizations also would be prohibited from excluding anyone from membership on the same grounds. A. Reierson, Alberta Labor Minister, who introduced the legislation, said that it would provide “recourse for abuse to the human mind and soul brought about by prejudice, bigotry and discrimination.”
When enacted, the Labor Minister said, the measure will be administered by the Alberta Department of Labor, which has been governed by a Social Credit administration for more than 30 years. Alberta is the only major Canadian province lacking an anti-discrimination law. Smaller provinces without such legislation are the Atlantic provinces of Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island.
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