Charity changes hiring policy
Provincially funded Christian Horizons agrees to end exclusions
In a major policy change, Ontario’s evangelical charity Christian Horizons has agreed to allow anyone, regardless of religious affiliation, to apply for jobs at its centres across the province.
The provincially funded evangelical group, which provides care and homes for the severely disabled, announced its policy change in a joint statement with the Ontario Human Rights Commission, but neither side will say what precipitated the move.
A spokesperson for the commission told the Citizen that it began with a complaint to the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal that negotiated a settlement between a complainant and Christian Horizons without a formal hearing.
A Tribunal spokesperson refused to comment.
Until a court decision almost three years ago, Christian Horizons employees also had to sign a “Lifestyle and Morality Statement” that barred extra-marital affairs, premarital sexual relations, reading or viewing pornography and homosexual relationships.
That statement was ultimately scrapped after lesbian service employee Connie Heintz was fired for entering a same-sex relationship. She appealed to the rights tribunal, which ruled that Christian Horizons had violated her human rights.
The group appealed the tribunal decision but lost at Ontario Divisional Court, where the woman was compensated for lost wages and damages for mental anguish.
The new agreement, which sees an end to the discriminatory hiring practices based on a signed “statement of faith”, appears not to be directly related to the Heintz case.
Although neither side would comment on what specifically led to the agreement, or go beyond what they released in a generally worded public statement, it appears hiring practices at Christian Horizons will be monitored closely by the commission. Christian Horizons chief executive Janet Nolan said Monday the agreement with the commission had been voluntary but would involve “ongoing consultation” with the commission.
“We will welcome applications from anyone, regardless of creed,” she said. “We seek to be fully in step with our partners in human rights. It’s a very good thing, and I’m glad to be where we are at. We’re going to work with the commission to evaluate our employment policies, procedures and job requirements. That work will be ongoing and commencing in the coming months.”
Christian Horizons has 3,200 employees provincewide and receives $115 million in provincial funding — more than 90 per cent of its budget.
In their joint public statement, the charity and the commission say all the group’s hiring practices will conform with “the values and principles set out in the Ontario Human Rights Code.
“Christian Horizons is committed to serving people living with developmental disabilities with respect and dignity, recognizing and supporting their talents, gifts and diversity,” added the statement. “It works to encourage open and accepting communities by modelling healthy and positive relationships. The commission and Christian Horizons recognize the importance of Christian Horizons’ foundation as a faith-based organization. At the same time, the commission and Christian Horizons believe that employing support workers and program managers who hold a variety of views on matters of faith will strengthen its capacity to support people from diverse communities.”