'Woke,' Liberal applicants not welcome, says post
A bar in Quebec is facing public backlash over a job advertisement that explicitly excluded applicants based on their political beliefs.
Recently, Le Bar Sport Le Vegas on Sainte-Anne Boulevard posted a job listing stating they were hiring a barmaid.
Canadian HR Reporter did not view the original ad; however, a follow-up Facebook post from the bar confirmed the details of the initial listing.
In the second post—translated from French to English using Google Translate—the bar stated:
“It’s confirmed. Recently, Le Vegas put out a shocking ad stating that we were looking for a barmaid. We chose to be very clear about our choice by writing our position and especially that we didn’t want a woke or a pro-Liberal or pro-CAQ person.”
In a subsequent update, the bar revised the final sentence to:
“I didn’t want someone who, during the pandemic, called the police when their neighbours received visitors.”
Facebook post from Le Bar Sport Le Vegas, photo from CTV News
Instead, the employer wanted someone who approved of "wartime measures,” according to a Noovo Info report.
Previously, a deaf job candidate walked out of an interview and accused the employer of discrimination.
Criticism over job post
Meanwhile, Marie-Michelle Savard, a labour lawyer, explained in the Noovo Info report that Quebec’s Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms prohibits discrimination during hiring—particularly on the basis of political beliefs, as well as race, colour, sex, and age.
“If a person is rejected because of their political opinions, they can appeal,” she said.
However, the bar owner—identified as Richard Poulin in the CTV News report—defended himself.
"We're not in the 1960s and 1970s anymore," he insisted in a telephone interview with Noovo Info. "People were hiding, but I'm not hiding. Do I have the right?"
The bar said that they received 10 applications for the job overall and that they have already hired someone.
Le Bar Sport Le Vegas described the new hire—named Valerie Veilleux—as “a little warrior who, like us, has never been afraid to show her convictions”.
Previously, the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal dismissed a complaint by a worker alleging that the withdrawal of a conditional job offer was discrimination on the basis of disability.
