Fines of $50 for individuals and $100 for corporations and trade unions are provided in a Fair Employment Practices act introduced in the Ontario legislature today by Premier Frost.
The bill provides penalties for discrimination in employment advertising. Domestics and employees of non-profit, religious, educational and charitable institutions, as well as employers who employ less than five people, are exempt from the provisions of the act.
The bill which is to be administered by the Department of Labor provides for appointment of a conciliation officer to inquire into the report of discrimination. He reports to the Minister of Labor who then can appoint a commissioner who will have all the powers of a conciliation board. If conciliation fails, access to the courts is provided for.
The Premier reviewed racial discrimination legislation in Ontario which he said had placed Ontario in the forefront in Canada in this field. He mentioned the Racial Discrimination Act of 1944, the legislation introduced at the session last year to prevent discrimination in covenants and land titles and the provision inserted in the 1950 Labor Relations Act to bar discrimination in any collective bargaining agreement.
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