A Quebec labour tribunal has ruled that a Ford dealership must rehire an employee who was fired following a sexual assault conviction. The judge determined that the dealership failed to demonstrate a link between the employee's conviction and his job performance.
A Ford dealership in Thetford Mines, Quebec , has been ordered to rehire a former employee who was fired after being convicted of sexual assault . Administrative Judge Annie Laprade ruled that the dealership, Cliche Auto Ford Thetford, failed to demonstrate a connection between Roussin Bizier's criminal conviction and his ability to perform his job duties. She also stated that the media attention surrounding the case did not present a tangible or concrete impact on his work capabilities.
Martin Roussin Bizier was fired in January 2024 after being convicted of sexually assaulting two women during his bachelor party in 2022. Court documents detail an incident where Roussin Bizier, while dressed in what the document describes as 'colourful feminine clothing,' engaged in non-consensual sexual touching with two women who stopped to take photos with him. A fight ensued with one of the victim's friends, during which Roussin Bizier's cousin struck the friend with a cane, causing injuries. While the dealership initially suspended Roussin Bizier following his arrest in 2022, he was allowed to return to work in early 2023. However, he was subsequently fired a year later after his conviction on two counts of sexual assault. Last month, Roussin Bizier received a six-month suspended sentence and several conditions, with the sentencing judge noting his lack of prior criminal record and deeming his risk of reoffending low. His cousin was also convicted of assault for his actions during the fight. The dealership argued that keeping Roussin Bizier on staff posed a risk to female clients, particularly during test drives, and could damage the dealership's reputation due to media coverage of the case. However, Judge Laprade rejected these arguments, emphasizing that Quebec's Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms prohibits firing someone solely based on a criminal conviction unless the offence directly relates to the job. She pointed out that the assaults, occurring outside a bar during a bachelor party, had 'nothing to do' with Roussin Bizier's role as a salesperson. The judge also highlighted Roussin Bizier's eight-year employment history at the dealership, his strong performance record, and the fact that he worked for nearly a year without incident after his initial suspension
QUEBEC EMPLOYMENT SEXUAL ASSAULT DEALERSHIP LABOUR TRIBUNAL
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