A B.C. Human Rights Tribunal hearing underway this week is examining a complaint by the former chief financial officer of Nanaimo, who is alleging discrimination by the city.
Victor Mema said ancestry, place of origin, colour and/or race factored into an allegation of misconduct made by other staff members, which led to the city ending his employment in May 2018. He had been on suspension for two months prior to that.
Mema was hired in September 2015 as Nanaimo’s director of financial services. He is a chartered professional accountant and certified treasury professional. In 2017, he became the city’s chief financial officer and deputy city manager.
The city announced in mid-May 2018 that Mema was no longer employed by Nanaimo. No reasons were given.
The Human Rights Tribunal hearing began on Aug. 4 and is scheduled to continue until Friday.
It follows a September 2019 decision by tribunal member Emily Ohler ordering the City of Nanaimo to provide specific documents relating to Mema’s complaint. The decision came out of a pre-hearing conference relating to applications for disclosure and did not make any finding on the merit of the complaint.
Born in Zimbabwe, Mema describes himself as a Black African, Ohler’s decision said. “In his complaint, Mr. Mema outlines various incidents of what he says are examples of the city failing or refusing to properly consider Black African candidates for city positions.”
Nanaimo denies Mema’s allegations and provides non-discriminatory explanations for incidents referred to by Mema, the decision said.
When the city announced in March 2018 that Mema was being suspended, it said that it had learned of an allegation that would be independently investigated.
Mema said there was no investigation and that he was not given details of allegations, Ohler said. He said the suspension was a pretext to get rid of all Black Africans employed by the city, she said.
Nanaimo denied that discriminatory comments were made by staff and has also denied that it failed to investigate the allegations made by municipal staff.
The city said that Mema’s employment was terminated for cause and that Mema was aware of the reasons for the suspension and termination.
Ohler ordered the city to turn over emails including those related to the development of a position for manager of treasury, about recruitment and hiring, and about another staffer’s legal invoices.
Mema is seeking $324,070 for lost wages, $10,038 in expenses, and $75,000 for injury to dignity, feelings and self‐respect.