Former Alberta human rights chair serves province $2.1M wrongful dismissal lawsuit
Alberta's former human rights commission chief has filed a lawsuit against the justice minister for "malicious treatment" and wrongful dismissal.
In September, Collin May's appointment as head of the provincial human rights body was rescinded by a cabinet order following an open letter from the Muslim community concerned with a book review he published that has been called Islamophobic.
May first joined the Alberta Human Rights Commission and Tribunals (AHRC) as a commissioner in 2019. He was appointed chief of the commission in May 2022 by a cabinet order.
On Tuesday, he filed the lawsuit alleging the province breached its contractual obligations and engaged in a "bad faith" dismissal.
May is seeking $1.12 million in damages for breaching his employment contract early, a public declaration recognizing he was wrongfully terminated, and the costs of the suit. Additionally, May believes he is entitled to a further $1 million for moral and punitive damages.
"Minister (Tyler) Shandro's office wrongfully terminated the plaintiff (May) without notice," the statement of claim reads. "The minister's office did not explain to the plaintiff the reason, and to-date, no reason has been given to him."
May's legal counsel, Kathryn Marshall, told CTV News Edmonton in an interview that he had a five-year fixed-term contract as chair of the commission, affording him due process and rights as an employee of the province.
"(People) assume he's just an appointment to serve at the pleasure of government, but he actually had a really comprehensive employment agreement," said Marshall, who specializes in employment law, human rights, and civil litigation at Toronto firm Levitt Sheikh LLP.
Marshall said May cooperated with the province's requests to meet with Muslim stakeholders and hosted consultations. In her view, May's firing was "surprising" and "misleading."
In the claim obtained by CTV News Edmonton, May was informed of his termination by letter on Sept. 15 under a clause addressing resignations.
According to the claim, Shandro's office demanded his resignation three days earlier.
May says he never resigned from his position since he "had done nothing wrong."
Marshall says May first learned of both the province's intention of seeking his resignation and then his ultimate termination through media reporting.
In the suit, May also alleges the AHRC was a "poisoned work environment" during his brief tenure as chief and that he was subject to interference from Shandro's office.
"It was clear from his first day on the job that the plaintiff had been set up to fail," the statement of claim says.
Marshall believes the book review was something the Alberta NDP "peddled" to smear his character.
"He is not Islamaphobic at all," Marshall said. "Ultimately, the book review was being misrepresented by various groups and individuals."
The claim says May suffered "significant mental and physical distress due to the unconscionable, malicious, and vicious actions and inactions taken by the defendant."
According to the statement of claim, May says his dismissal led to the University of Calgary Cummings School of Medicine cancelling an opportunity for him to co-teach a course this fall.
The province has 20 days as the defendant to respond. None of the claims have been tested or proven in court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire' are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK
The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.
Houston braces for flooding to worsen in wake of storms
High waters flooded neighborhoods around Houston on Saturday following heavy rains that have already resulted in crews rescuing hundreds of people from homes, rooftops and roads engulfed in murky water.
‘We made them safer and more fun’: Here’s what’s new about e-scooters
Electric scooters (e-scooters) have been gaining popularity in the capital and this season comes with some changes and updates.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Canadian Auger-Aliassime reaches first Masters final in Madrid with another walkover
Montreal's Felix Auger-Aliassime has advanced to his first ATP Masters final, and he hasn't had to play all that much tennis to do it.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.