VANCOUVER B.C.: The Workers’ Compensation Board of B.C. and the World Sikh Organization B.C. Region are pleased to jointly announce a mutually satisfactory settlement to a Human Rights complaint filed by Harjit Singh Khun Khun

Mr KhunKhun filed a complaint with the B.C. Council of Human Rights in 1985 alleging he was discriminated against because of his religion when he was denied admission into the WCB Rehabilitation Center for rehabilitation services unless he removed his kirpan. Mr.KhunKhuna baptized Sikh is required by the tenets of his faith to wear his kirpan at all times.

The Workers’ Compensation Board advises that the matter arose as a result of the Board’s legitimate general policy prohibiting weapons on any Workers’ Compensation Board premises. In the absence of an interpretive guideline the kirpan was perceived as a weapon. The incident is an unfortunate example of how a neutral and legitimate policy can unintentionally have an adverse effect on a particular group in this case the Sikh community said Bill Greer Acting Chairman of the WCB. In a letter to Mr. KhunKhun the Workers* Compensation Board advised of its new policy. In consultation with the Wrote Sikh Organization B.C. Region and the B.C. Council of Human Rights the Workers’ Compensation Board has issued an interpretive guideline which aims to recognize both the legitimate safety needs of the organization and the multicultural fabric of Canadian society. Included in this is recognition of the religious significance of the kirpan for Sikhs which is not designed or intended to be used as a weapon

Prem Singh Vinning representing the B.C. Region of the World Sikh Organization hailed the initiative taken by the Workers’ Compensation Board of B.C. to settle this complaint. A baptized Khalsa Sikh is prohibited by his religion from using the kirpan as a weapon he said. Given the standard size of a kirpan and how itis secured by the wearer it would also be difficult for anyone else to remove the kirpan if their intention was to do harm. Mr. Vinning commended the Worker’s Compensation Board’s new policy as representing a further major step in giving the Sikhs religious freedom in Canada.

Mr. KhunKhun also indicated his approval of the new policy. I’m pleased that the new policy recognizes my need to follow all the tenets of my faith. he said.

Article extracted from this publication >> June 28, 1991