Indigenous family successful in discrimination claim against North Bay Transit

An Indigenous family has won compensation in a discrimination claim filed at the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal against North Bay Transit.

Paula Nakogee and her two adult sons were prevented from boarding a bus in April, 2018 despite having valid passes.

She said they had been shopping and had a number of groceries and even some weights that her son had purchased when they attempted to get on the bus.

She told CBC that the driver looked at her sons, and then looked at her.

"He looked disgusted and just yelled, get out, get out," she said. "I went into complete shock because of the loud voice."

Jamie McGinnis represented the Nakogees at the tribunal hearing.

"The Nakogees suspected it was because they were indigenous because they had a valid bus pass," she said.

"There were more than a dozen other passengers that were able to board without incident except for them."

McGinnis said Paula Nakogee called the North Bay Transit service to complain after the driver prevented her and her sons from boarding the bus.

"And this really only compounded their experience because the investigation itself was flawed and did not leave the Nakogees feeling as though their complaints were taken seriously and properly addressed," she said.

Nakogee later contacted the Human Rights Legal Support Centre, which gave her legal aid and later represented her family at the hearing.

The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario ruled that North Bay Transit must pay $45,000 in damages, make policy changes, and train staff, after a driver refused to let a family onto a bus because they were Indigenous.

In a statement, Gord Young, a spokesperson for the City of North Bay, said the city takes the matter seriously.

"Corporate policies, procedures and practices continue to evolve since the reported date of incident in keeping with best practices," Young said.

"This includes the addition of video cameras to our bus fleet to provide enhanced protections for all. We will continue to review our processes and services for the purpose of improving them."

Young said the city could not confirm whether or not the bus driver was disciplined or fired due to the incident because the city "does not comment on matters related to labour and employee relations pertaining to individuals."

Nakogee says she is satisfied with the tribunal's decision and feels relieved that her family was heard.