I imagine greater information will be forthcoming on the INFACT home page
about the following legal victory.  This case took 7 _years_. What is most
remarkable and joyful is the tone of the articles, editorials and the
attitudes of the public interviews!  Believe me this is the result of a
tremendous amount of HARD work over the past years by people such as Renee
Hefti and Frances Jones and Marina Green, INFACT, LLLCanada and countless
others. Do not give up hope -- progess can be slow but isn't this wonderful.
And note both papers quoted spelled breastfeeding as one word :)

Vancouver Sun front page story:

        "A B.C. civil servant made Canadian legal history Monday when a
human rights tribunal ruled that employers must give breastfeeding employees
the time and opportunity to nurse at their desks or elsewhere. The case will
have far-reaching implications for all employers in the public and private
sector.  It is the first ruling that says refusal to accomodate
breastfeeding constitutes discrimination on the basis of sex.
        ........[the following is quoted in the paper from the ruling by the
male adjudicator] 'In my opinion, a rule which is made to appear neutral but
which is designed to discriminate on a ground prohibited by the Human Rights
Code can not be said to be made for genuine business purposes,' Patch said.
        ......Rob Farvolden, Poirier's [the mother] lawyer, said while the
decision is binding in B.C. 'there is no question it will have persuasive
power throughout the country in terms of viewing breastfeeding as a
protected act under the Human Rights Code.' "

p A 11  the editorial Vancouver Sun

"A Win Against Prudery,  Why was breastfeeding fight necessary?"

Michelle Poirier has won her case before a B.C. human rights tribunal.  But
the puzzling question remains: Why?  Why would anyone in this day and age --
in fact, in any imaginable day and age -- object to a woman breastfeeding
her child in the company of other people?....................
.....The ministry is apologizing.  Good. Right. And proper. But it still
challenges the mind.  Who would be so narrow as to have been offended or
annoyed by this most natural and wholesome of acts?  Mrs Grundy and her
prudish disciples apparently still live."

Victoria Times Colonist had a huge front page story with lots of details, on
Page A2 under a large type headline " Breastfeeding support proves overwhelming"
        "On the streets of Victoria there is overwhelming support for women
who want to breastfeed their babies at work or in public. Not one of a dozen
people interviewed on Douglas Street objected to a Human Rights Tribunal
ruling which means businesses will have to pull out all the stops in efforts
to accomodate breastfeeding employees.
        Most of the women interviewed were vehemently in favor of mothers
breastfeeding wherever and whenever they need. But some men emphasized that
nursing should be done discretely and others said they would have difficulty
with a woman breastfeeding beside them in a restaurant or at the next desk
at work.
        Helen Daley, retired, said breastfeeding is a sacred right and
Canadians need to get a more European view of a natural
process........T.C,employee,said she does not believe employers should have
to pay to set up a special room, but women should be able to breastfeed
where they want....R.D, hot dog vendor, said he could not set up space for a
breastfeeding employee, but would be happy if someone sat on the sidewalk to
breastfeed. 'Don't put your views and values on other people.'.........."

The editorial in the Times Colonist was headlined
"One Rights Battle Nobody Needed, fight against mother nursing at work was a
waste of time and money
        There should be a citizens' remedy that gets us out of paying the
bills for stupid government decisions. At least then we wouldn't be footing
legal bills to fight against the scourge of breastfeeding....."  it then
goes on to rant about the waste of money this lawsuit was to the taxpayer
(the employer/defendant involved was the provincial government)





--"Without interest and passion nothing great has ever happened in history.
Hegel"
               Rhoda Taylor, B.A., IBCLC   Duncan, B.C., Canada--