Why "Canadian experience" violates human rights

Employers who demand Canadian work experience are discriminating against potential employees, the Ontario Human Rights Commission says. It's a new policy that research by Izumi Sakamoto, associate professor, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto, helped develop. Read Sakatmoto's OpEd article on this topic in The Toronto Star. The policy, unveiled by the Commission July 15, states that a strict requirement for "Canadian experience" is discriminatory, and can only be used in rare circumstances. In a statement, tjhe OHRC said "Employers and regulatory bodies need to ask about all of a job applicant's previous work - where they got their experience does not matter. The policy also tells employers and regulatory bodies how to develop practices, policies and programs that do not result in discrimination. " UofT News asked Sakamoto to reflect on the new policy and the research that informs it.