Vancouver Canucks: NDP Party Demands Diversity on Team Roster

CP: June 24, 2011

Citing recent demands to expand the diversity of Canada's Supreme Court, BC NDP Leader Adrian Dix, with the support of his Federal counterpart Jack Layton, filed a formal complaint today with the BC Human Rights Commission against the Vancouver Canucks, claiming that their hiring practices evidence a clear bias against women, aboriginal people, senior citizens and the physically disabled.  During a press conference Wednesday, Dix stated:

"It has come to our attention that there is not one single woman on the team.  There is not one single aboriginal person.  There is not one person over the age of 50.  There is not one single person with disability currently wearing a Vancouver Canuck Jersey. 

Certainly, the absence of diversity, and frankly, the "whiteness" of the team contributed greatly to the recent riots in our city - between people of various ethnicities feeling "left out", and young, white urban males perceiving that they have been given a "free pass" in society - the current hiring policies of the Canucks are leading to anarchy in our streets."

When questioned about whether or not forcing the team to place people on the roster who might not necessarily be the most qualified or the most talented could lead to a weak and failing hockey program, again, in response, Jack Layton referred to the make up of Canada's Supreme Court:

"Certainly, there can be said to be no more important or significant role in Canadian society that that of the Supreme Court of Canada", said Layton.  "And if the aim of establishing diversity can take precedence over the quality of applicants at that level of our society, certainly, the need to win a "game" of hockey is much less significant, and must bow to diversity demands as well."

Surprisingly, considering the large gay and lesbian community in Vancouver, there was no comment respecting the inclusion of gays and lesbians on the team - though having regarding to the general response of the Sedin twins during the final series, it has been suggested that there is already a "gay friendly" roster in Vancouver - and that, coupled with the new team logo, has allowed the team to escape any criticism from that segment of the Vancouver community.