Amy Blanding speaks in front of the Vancouver Courthouse detailing her lawsuit against the NHA. Courtesy: Screenshot from Youtube page Amy Blanding
Northern Health lawsuit

Former employee filing lawsuit against Northern Health Authority

Oct 10, 2024 | 12:36 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Amy Blanding, the Northern Health Authority’s (NHA) former Director of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA), is filing a lawsuit against the NHA claiming wrongful dismissal, violation of her human and Charter rights, injury, damages, and defamation. Blanding alleges she was dismissed from her position due to pro-Palestine and pro-Gaza posts she made on her personal social media page, as well as writing and singing songs showing support for Gaza.

“I find it distressing that my support for basic human rights cost me my job. This is another example of anti-Palestinian racism in the workplace. I believe Northern Health violated my constitutionally protected right to freedom of expression,” Blanding said.

“These events occurred outside of work on my personal time. I’m a leader in my community, I am not anti-Semitic. I fundamentally support the rights for all people, Jewish and Palestinian included, to live lives free from oppression. I also adamantly opposed the ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza,” she added.

In a press conference, Blanding alleges an “extremely defamatory” letter was sent to the NHA that she says was “factually incorrect, hate filled, and deeply troubling.” Following this letter, Blanding says her dismissal came shortly after, which she believes is a direct violation of her freedom of expression.

“On May 10, I was called into a meeting with David Williams, Vice President Human Resources at Northern Health, under the assumption that it was a follow up to my safety concerns I had expressed about the letter. Instead, David Williams demanded that I publish a pre-drafted statement on my personal social media, stating that my actions had negatively impacted community members and caused them to feel less safe accessing health care services, specifically, the Jewish community. The statement went against my political and ethical beliefs. Taken extremely off guard, I asked for time to consider the demands. I was denied and immediately removed from my position as Director of IDEA,” she says.

CKPG News reached out to Northern Health, but Northern Health said it “cannot comment as this is a human resources matter before the courts.”

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