BLACK URBAN PLANNER WINS SUPREME COURT VICTORY IN DAVID-AND-GOLIATH STRUGGLE AGAINST RACISM IN JOB PROMOTION BY THE CITY OF MONTREAL

July 31, 2008 --- A Black urban planner, Mr. Olthène Tanisma, won an important victory at the Supreme Court today when the Court rejected a motion for leave to appeal by the City of Montreal. After being by-passed for job promotions in the city’s civil service, Mr. Tanisma filled complaints with the Quebec Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission, which dragged on with its investigation for 4 years without results. He had to go to court to sue his employer against whom he won at the Court of Appeal level. The City appealed the case to the Supreme Court, which on July 31, 2008, rejected the City's motion to appeal and awarded Mr. Tanisma costs. The matter will now go back before the Superior Court in 2009. CRARR has backed Mr. Tanisma in what has turned out to be a test case to measure the City’s commitment to employment equity for racial minorities.