Spy agency settles big lawsuit over bullying

Canada’s spy service has settled a C$35m (NZ$38.9m) lawsuit launched by five employees who alleged they suffered years of bullying in a workplace rife with racism, homophobia and antiMuslim sentiment.

The allegations against the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) were documented in a statement of claim filed in July in Federal Court.

Based on the experiences of five veteran employees, the court documents painted a picture of a hostile work environment where ‘‘racist, sexist, homophobic and discriminatory behaviour has become the accepted culture and norm’’. None of the allegations were proved in court.

CSIS director David Vigneault said a confidential settlement had been negotiated, describing it as ‘‘in the best interest of those concerned’’.

One CSIS employee, who is gay and has a Muslim partner, alleged that since he had arrived at the Toronto office 10 years ago, some managers routinely highlighted his sexuality in day-to-day communication, using terms such as ‘‘gay boy’’, ‘‘fag’’, ‘‘fag boy’’ and ‘‘homo’’.

Several of the plaintiffs described a workplace where antiIslamic comments and views were commonplace, while one intelligence officer alleged she was made to feel by management as though she was a ‘‘token black woman [who] was promoted without merit’’.

All five employees said they had taken extended leave from the agency and, in several cases, were struggling with stress, anxiety and depression.