13 India-born veterinarians have won a decade-long human rights case against a veterinary medical association in Canada, that has been asked to pay compensation of up to USD 270,00 for "engaging in systemic discrimination" against them.
The British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal yesterday concluded that the Veterinary Medical Association was "engaged in systemic discrimination" against Indo-Canadian vets associated with discount clinics.
"The association which became the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia (BCVMA) in 2010 - tolerated and facilitated the discussion of wide-ranging and race-based allegations about Indo-Canadian vets, Tribunal member Judy Parrack said.
Parrack told the association that it should end the discriminatory practices and pay 13 vets born and trained in India 2,000 dollars (USD 1,544) to 35,000 dollars (USD 2,7000) apiece.
The association has also been ordered to pay interest for "injury to dignity, feelings and self-respect" plus more than 45,000 dollars (USD 34,755) in total for various claims of lost wages and expenses, The Vancouver Sun reported.
"I was not fighting for money, I was fighting for justice. You don't know the hell I have lived through and continue to live through," Hakam Bhullar, owner of Atlas Vet Clinic in Vancouver, said.
Bhullar was awarded 30,000 dollars (USD 23,170). He estimated that the veterinarians put 1.7 million Canadian dollars (USD 1.3 million) into fighting the case.
Another veterinarian Pavitar Bajwa received the largest compensation of 35,000 dollars (USD 2,7000).
He testified he worried the governing body might close his practice and was unable to take his son to India for a visit, fearing a surprise inspection of his facility.
The human rights hearing heard tape recordings of Robert Ashburner, former chairman of the association's conduct review committee. The recordings were made without Ashburner's knowledge.
