Lawsuit should be tossed, CSIS says

OTTAWA — Canada’s spy agency is asking the Federal Court to dismiss a lawsuit from five Toronto employees, saying it never engaged in or tolerated religious bigotry, used derogatory nicknames or subjected the staffers to reprisals.

In a statement of defence filed with the court late Friday, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service admitted “inappropriate language” was used by service employees in informal communications in the Toronto region.

But it said the allegations of the five employees were addressed by the service through policies and procedures relevant to the facts of each case.

The agency is committed to a healthy and respectful workplace of inclusion, and does not tolerate harassment, discrimination or bullying under any circumstances, the statement said.

A statement of claim filed in July by the five employees, who cannot be legally identified, alleges that senior CSIS officials foster a prejudice and distrust for Muslim staff members, who are seen as essential to the service’s mission but working without its trust and respect.

The employees seek millions of dollars in damages for what they say was years of harassment condoned by supervisors. All say they can no longer work due to depression, anxiety and other ailments linked to the harassment they endured.

One woman claims that managers had to approve her participation in personal and religious activities after she began wearing a hijab, despite having passed security screening. A gay man with a Muslim partner alleges that a colleague wrote in an October 2015 email, “careful your Muslim in-laws don’t behead you in your sleep for being homo.”

In the House of Commons on Friday, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale cautioned that the Federal Court proceedings are at an early stage, and must be allowed to take their course. “But they will be followed very, very carefully by me and my officials to determine an appropriate outcome.”

Goodale, the minister responsible for CSIS, said there must be “appropriate consequences” for harassment and discrimination.