When two rights collide, who’s wrong? – The Globe and Mail

Good commentary by Leah Eichler on the issues raised by the York U controversy from the perspective of the some private sector diversity advisers. Much more common sense than from York U admin or  lawyer Albertos Polizogopoulos’ It’s not about sex — it’s about the law – New Canadian Media – NCM:

Natalie MacDonald, a founding partner at Rudner MacDonald, a boutique law firm in Toronto specializing in employment law, said the York student’s request for accommodation under the guise of religion marginalizes and perpetuates discrimination against women, setting gender equality back several years.

“I know of no religion that could possibly legitimize such a request that would preclude a male student from working with female students in a group setting. And, if there were such a religion, the fact that it would marginalize women, and perpetuate discriminatory conduct against them, should be sufficient to deny the request,” she said.

Ms. MacDonald added that she finds it “disturbing that this kind of discriminatory request could have been made in Canada in 2014, let alone granted by the head of an institution of higher learning.”

The incident at York should become a cautionary tale, not a professional precedent. I’m an ardent advocate for religious freedoms. But if religious or cultural beliefs in any way reverse the gains earned by the women’s rights movement, count me out.

When two rights collide, who’s wrong? – The Globe and Mail.