Appearance Before the Canadian House of Commons Standing Committee on Bill C-378

On November 26, 2024, Nicholas Marcus Thompson appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities to provide expert testimony on Bill C-378.

The bill proposes to extend the timeline for filing workplace harassment and violence complaints from three months to two years, a change long overdue for workers recovering from trauma. While supporting the amendment, Nicholas highlighted that the current complaints process under the Canada Labour Code remains deeply flawed and often ineffective for victims seeking justice, particularly Black, Indigenous, and racialized workers.

In his submission, Nicholas called for a broader transformation of the federal complaints system, recommending:

• Automatic referrals for disciplinary action when harassment or violence is confirmed.

• Restorative justice measures such as financial compensation, public acknowledgements, and formal apologies for victims.

• Culturally relevant support programs to eliminate systemic barriers for marginalized employees.

His testimony emphasized that policy change must be matched by structural reform to truly protect workers and hold institutions accountable.

Extending the deadline to file a complaint is only meaningful if it comes with a system that actually delivers justice. Without real consequences, real support, and real change, the process continues to fail the very people it’s meant to protect.

This intervention continues his mission to dismantle systemic discrimination in Canada’s public service and to ensure equity, dignity, and safety for all workers.