HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION

The purchase service agreement between Eden Health Care Services (EHCS) and the Southern Health region violates the Manitoba Human Rights Code. It has created a culture of discrimination that can no longer be ignored or accepted. Have your voice heard. With the Manitoba provincial election upon us, we have a golden opportunity to hold our politicians responsible. To ensure that our tax dollars are being spent on public services that honour our rights and freedoms and that protect us from all forms of discrimination.

Eden Health Care Services

EHCS is an Anabaptist Mennonite corporation. EHCS is governed by a board of directors, made up of prominent members of 10 Mennonite Church constituencies. EHCS is funded by the Manitoba Governement, to provide all psychiatric services (inpatient and outpatient) for the entire Southern Health region. They are also funded to provide a number of other public services including Community Mental Health, employment, and housing related services.

Discrimination

All public services should be delivered by government employees. Outsourcing public services to a religious corporation results in discrimination based on the following characteristics as identified in the Manitoba Human Rights Code:

• Religion or creed, or religious belief, religious association, or religious activity
• Sex
• Sexual Orientation
• Gender Identity
• Marital or family status

It is important to recognize that discrimination comes in many forms. In this case, discrimination is not always overt or obvious. The Manitoba Human Rights Code interprets discrimination to include:

"Any act or omission that results in discrimination regardless of

(a) the form of the act or omission; and

(b) whether the person responsible for the act or omission intended to discriminate."

The Victims

The Human Rights Violation has an impact on four distinct population groups: The mentally ill, prospective job applicants, employees, and the Manitoba Taxpayers. Most concerning is the discrimination faced by the mentally ill in the Southern Health region. It's important to recognize that people with mental illness are already among the most marginalized, oppressed, devalued, and stigmatized populations in our society. It is also important to recognize that mental illness does not discriminate. Mental illness effects people of all ages, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief etc.

To force the mentally ill to access psychiatric services from a religious corporation is a clear Human Rights violation. EHCS maintains and promotes religious beliefs and values that are clearly discriminatory. Beliefs and values that discriminate against women, the LGBT community, religious minorities, etc. Imagine what it would be like for a Muslim or Atheist to require psychiatric services through Eden Mental Health Centre. For a Gay man or a transsexual. For a woman.

All of these individuals have their own set of beliefs and values. Their own moral compass. Their own existential conclusions. These are all essential components of a persons psychological/mental health. It is essential for people with mental illness to have access to public psychiatric services that are free of bias and discrimination. The concept of neutrality is of utmost importance.

Please sign this petition. Share this link with family and friends. Have your voice heard.