Appearance Before the Senate of Canada Standing Committee on Human Rights

On May 1, 2023, Nicholas Marcus Thompson appeared before the Senate Standing Committee on Human Rights as part of its study on Anti Black Racism, Sexism and Systemic Discrimination at the Canadian Human Rights Commission. His testimony addressed the deep failures of the commission and the lived experiences of Black workers across the federal public service.

The committee launched this study following a Treasury Board Secretariat decision that found the CHRC violated the non discrimination clause in three collective agreements, raising serious questions about the commission’s credibility and its ability to protect those who rely on it.

Nicholas appeared in two capacities: as Executive Director of the Black Class Action Secretariat, representing tens of thousands of Black federal workers, and as President of the Union of Taxation Employees Toronto North. In both roles, he has seen firsthand the barriers Black workers face when seeking justice, including delays, dismissed complaints, and a lack of trust in the commission’s processes.

He told the committee that anti Black racism is deeply entrenched in federal institutions. Highly qualified Black employees are routinely confined to entry level positions for decades, left without promotions, and often punished for raising concerns. Many retire without ever moving forward in their careers.

Nicholas also shared troubling accounts from employees inside the Canadian Human Rights Commission, where anti Black racism shaped daily work, where racialized staff remained in lower level positions, and where race based complaints were disproportionately rejected. For many workers, approaching the commission was a source of further trauma rather than resolution.

He explained that existing mechanisms, including the grievance process and internal investigations, have failed to address systemic discrimination. These failures led to the filing of the Black Class Action, seeking accountability across the entire federal public service.

Nicholas presented key recommendations to the Senate, including amending the Employment Equity Act to recognize Black employees as a distinct designated group, creating a direct access model for complaints to reach the tribunal, and establishing a Black Equity Commissioner with a mandate to investigate systemic discrimination and ensure accountability.

His appearance before the Senate called on Canada to confront these failures, rebuild trust in its human rights systems, and ensure that Black workers receive the fairness and protection they deserve.