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Former CAO Samra 3rd member of former City management team to file human rights complaint

Dec 4, 2018 | 11:37 AM

NANAIMO — Six months after she was fired for cause, it appears Tracy Samra is not ready to move on from her time as the City of Nanaimo’s top employee.

The former chief administrative officer filed a complaint with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal, naming the City and at least one member of the former Council in her claim.

The City’s director of human resources, John Van Horne, confirmed the City was notified of the complaint on Nov. 29.

Van Horne would not provide any details about the allegations and said staff have not had a chance to consult with legal counsel so it’s too soon to know how the City will proceed.

Former mayor Bill McKay told NanaimoNewsNOW he was named in the complaint as well, but also declined to share any details.

“Essentially it’s not my claim, it’s a City issue even though I’m named as one of the respondents. But I will certainly defend myself,” McKay said, adding it’s not clear if the City would pay for any legal fees he might incur.

Both McKay and Van Horne declined to confirm the identity of the other person named in the claim, but sources indicate there is only one other individual involved.

The fact the City was notified of the complaint does not guarantee the Tribunal will allow the matter to proceed any further. The City has several options, including proceeding to a settlement hearing, asking for a dismissal or filing a response. The Tribunal has not weighed any of the allegations filed by Samra at this point.

Samra becomes the third senior member of the City’s previous administration to file a human rights complaint over their tumultuous tenure.

Former chief financial officer Victor Mema and former chief operations officer Brad McRae have open files with the Tribunal.

In McRae’s case, a mediation hearing with the City failed to reach a resolution and a response was filed. Mema and the City, meanwhile, are currently in the process of providing evidence and documentation to the Tribunal and it has yet to be determined if the matter will proceed to a hearing, Van Horne said.

McRae also filed a civil claim against the City.

Van Horne said there’s no denying the City will bear a legal cost related to the complaints.

“From the City’s standpoint, that cost needs to be weighed off against what is the cost of throwing money at every complaint you receive. Sometimes you have to defend yourself.”

 

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi