Esquimalt Fire Department feels heat from racism complaint
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Updated: September 04, 2009 1:39 PM
A "thorough" investigation has been launched to examine allegations of racist discrimination and harassment amongst staff of Esquimalt Fire Department.
Township of Esquimalt Mayor Barb Desjardins says a letter of complaint was filed at town hall last week.
Peter Lawless has been hired as an independant investigator in the case, Desjardins said.
"I have to say I'm shocked," she said. "Now, they're allegations, but I would say we as a municipality have zero tolerance for harassment or discrimination of any nature."
Desjardins said as soon as the findings of the investigation come to town hall, fire department management would "take action right away."
Last month, Esquimalt launched an audit on the fire hall to determine why, for example, sick days were so common, therefore making costs higher than necessary.
Desjardins said the two investigations were not connected, but they both seem to communicate a problem with staff.
"It leads you to think there's a culture of some stress in the department," she said.
Desjardins said she doesn't know when the final results of the investigation into the racism allegations will take before they come across her desk.
"We want (the investigator) to be very thorough and staff want (him) to be very thorough."
ecardone@vicnews.com
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