Several officials with the Ministry of Public Safety and Security have been ordered to take sensitivity training after the province's human-rights board of inquiry found the ministry to be "racially poisoned."
The order this week stemmed from a complaint launched 12 years ago by a native correctional officer who claimed to be the target of racist remarks from managers at the Toronto East Detention Centre.
Those named by the board of inquiry include acting assistant deputy minister Gary Commeford and acting deputy minister John Rabeau, as well as a number of regional directors.
"It's absolute hell working under those conditions," said Michael McKinnon, 46, who still works at the institution.
"All I'm trying to do is get a fair and equitable opportunity and that kept being denied. That's very troubling considering the diverse clientele that we're dealing with on a daily basis in an already negative work environment."
Bob Runciman, minister of public safety and security, said yesterday his ministry is willing to co-operate with the board of inquiry's findings.
"We do not accept racism in the system and we will work with them to eliminate it," Runciman said.
Courtesy of the Toronto Star
December 06, 2002