CJC - 'Talk it over' - A study kit to achieve fair employment practices

Part Of: Ben Kayfetz fonds; Canadian Jewish Congress and Joint Community Relations Committee series

Part Of: Ben Kayfetz fonds; Canadian Jewish Congress and Joint Community Relations Committee series

Scope and Content: File contains a kit distributed by the Fair Employment Practices Commission regarding combating racial and religious discrimination in the workplace. This kit was distributed to Ben Kayfetz in his capacity as the National Director of Community Relations at the Canadian Jewish Congress.

Notes: "To gauge public opinion, the JPRC commissioned the Canadian Institute of Public Opinion to take a poll on anti-discrimination legislation. Canadians were asked to consider the following: 'In some parts of the United States, it is against the law to refuse a man a job because of his race, color or religion. Some people approve of this because it ensures equality for all; others disapprove, claiming it interferes with employers. Would you approve or disapprove of such a regulation in this province?'(77) Although the public would remain unaware of it, the Canadian Jewish Congress paid for the poll. Congress officials did so because they were uncertain of the outcome and wanted to reserve the right of publication in the event that the results were unfavourable.(78) Since a majority of those polled favoured anti-discrimination legislation, the results formed the basis of a massive publicity campaign in Ontario. Editors of newspapers and magazines could now confidently be approached to publicize fair employment practices legislation. The poll's results were also included in a fair employment kit that was prepared by the Canadian Jewish Congress and distributed to a large number of community groups." - Ruth Frager and Carmela Patrias