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I was harassed for nursing at local diner, city police backed it up. - Page 3

post #41 of 157
12/13/08 at 7:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by kriket View Post
You should probably have a nurse in at the Police station to educate those cops too... Thats the real problem :
if the cops don't enforce the law their is no reason for people to follow it.

thismama - remember the thread about bfing in a swimming pool? i think Canada's bfing law/ code and what that means is dissected pretty thoroughly in that thread.
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post #42 of 157
12/13/08 at 8:00pm
Thread Starter 
Yes we are going to do the nurse in at the police station, not the diner, because just one diner not knowing the Code is one thing, but the police? That's crazy.
post #43 of 157
12/13/08 at 8:01pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1littlebit View Post
if the cops don't enforce the law their is no reason for people to follow it.

thismama - remember the thread about bfing in a swimming pool? i think Canada's bfing law/ code and what that means is dissected pretty thoroughly in that thread.
I should find it. I'm getting lots of info thrown at me tho and it's kinda overwhelming. I'm supposed to be done researching for now, school just ended! LOL!
post #44 of 157
12/13/08 at 8:08pm
I *believe* that the Code is law, but I'm not sure. I might have a lawyer friend of friend I can ask.
post #45 of 157
12/13/08 at 8:09pm
http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=997913

here's the thread. its just a tad long.. lol.. but i know its in there.. esp. in the second half
post #46 of 157
12/13/08 at 8:16pm
Thread Starter 
thanks, i'm looking thru it now.
post #47 of 157
12/13/08 at 8:21pm
Thread Starter 
So, I don't see a straight answer there, just lots of theory about whether the Code should or should not be law. Is it law, or no? Anyone know for sure? I always believed it is.
post #48 of 157
12/13/08 at 8:36pm
Hey ladies - another outraged Ontario mama here! TM, what a crock! : I would've gotten someone in the eye with some milk.

About the code vs. the law, unfortunately that's where it gets sticky with regard to public places. I'm not sure if the code *is* the law, kwim?

I'd definitely make some calls to make sure you have your ducks in order. I mean, I'm not afraid of the regional police - but I'd hate to see it turn into a cluster!@#$ and someone get in serious trouble.

Definitely call LLL, local media, I'd even try contacting the OPP for advice on the actual law... not that they'll know definitively, but if Seargent 'So & So' tells you were within your rights, that would help.
post #49 of 157
12/13/08 at 8:45pm
wow.. I hope that this will teach them a lesson! Don't mess with a nursing mama!
post #50 of 157
12/13/08 at 8:50pm
It's all upsetting, but most especially the ignorance of the police on this issue. Good for you for organizing a nurse-in. I would be tempted to bring in the Human Rights Commission as well, so that the police ensure that this lack of knowledge in their officers doesn't happen again.

I'm so sorry this happened to you
post #51 of 157
12/13/08 at 9:24pm
Ok, I know no one should rely on Wikipedia as fact, but this is what it says:

"The Ontario Human Rights Code is a provincial law in the province of Ontario,..."
post #52 of 157
12/13/08 at 9:41pm
It is definitely a law. I would be filing a complaint against the diner and the police on Monday morning. CarolynnMarilynn went through this process a few months ago. You should pm her.
post #53 of 157
12/13/08 at 9:44pm
Here is a promotional pamphlet from the Public Health Unit in the area. It says "Breastfeeding protects... how can YOU protect breastfeeding? Encourage moms to continue breastfeeding and to feel comfortable breastfeeding... anywhere!"
http://www.healthunit.com/articlesPDF/13307.pdf

I would call public health and get them on board. (Well, I am sure they are already on board from their promotional material! What I mean is this is totally a public health issue and they might provide support too.)
post #54 of 157
12/13/08 at 9:54pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Limabean1975 View Post
Ok, I know no one should rely on Wikipedia as fact, but this is what it says:

"The Ontario Human Rights Code is a provincial law in the province of Ontario,..."
It's not in the Code tho.

Quote:
Originally Posted by the_lissa View Post
It is definitely a law. I would be filing a complaint against the diner and the police on Monday morning. CarolynnMarilynn went through this process a few months ago. You should pm her.
I have a lawyer on my local board telling me it's not law. I can't quite understand what she is saying about its relationship to law tho.

I'm def. gonna file on Monday. Definitely.
post #55 of 157
12/13/08 at 10:20pm
Here is the code:

Quote:
The
Code
prohibits discrimination in "services, goods and facilities" against women who are
breastfeeding. This means that women have a right to nurse undisturbed, and cannot be
prevented from breastfeeding a child in, for example, a public area or restaurant. They also
cannot be asked to move to a more “discreet” area to breastfeed a child, or to “cover up”.
Complaints from other persons will not justify interfering with a woman’s right to breastfeed.
I'm not sure how the Human Rights Code varies from law, if at all, but I do know that every breastfeeding complaint to the Commission has favoured the breastfeeding mother and has forced businesses to comply, apologize, etc.
post #56 of 157
12/13/08 at 10:29pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by the_lissa View Post
Here is the code:



I'm not sure how the Human Rights Code varies from law, if at all, but I do know that every breastfeeding complaint to the Commission has favoured the breastfeeding mother and has forced businesses to comply, apologize, etc.
woot! that is great news! so i'm thinking nurse in at the police station, and make a complaint to the commission? yes?
post #57 of 157
12/13/08 at 10:33pm
It sounds like you can (and should) file a complaint with The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario
post #58 of 157
12/13/08 at 10:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by thismama View Post
woot! that is great news! so i'm thinking nurse in at the police station, and make a complaint to the commission? yes?
Go Mama Go! Definitely make a complaint to the HR commission.

You may want to hold off on the nurse-in until you hear what the commission has to say. They may give the police a way to see the error of their ways without creating a adversarial situation. For the sake of breastfeeding mamas in London, I'd hate to see the police get backed into a corner and feel they had to stick to their (ignorant) position no matter what.

That said - if you decide a nurse-in is what is needed I am there in spirit with you all the way! (Just a little too far to drive from Montreal in this weather.)
post #59 of 157
12/14/08 at 12:17am
The Lissa, where did you get that? I've been freaking hunting for it and could not find it!!
post #60 of 157
12/14/08 at 12:27am
It's a pdf from the ohrc web sit. Here it is in html:

http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:...ient=firefox-a

It's on page 15 under services, goods, and facilities.

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