The World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) has called for 100 Sikh security guards at City of Toronto sites who have been removed from their positions for having religious facial hair to be reinstated. .“It is completely unreasonable that Sikh security guards who served in their positions at the City of Toronto through the height of the pandemic are now being terminated, reassigned, or demoted for not being clean-shaven,” said WSO President Tejinder Singh Sidhu in a Monday press release. .Devout Sikhs leave their hair uncut to display their faith. Sikhs honour God’s gift of hair by not cutting it through the practice of kesh..The press release said the City of Toronto has mandated a clean-shave requirement for security guards at city sites. It said this policy has excluded Sikh security guards who have uncut hair because of religious reasons. .The city mandate states all security guards have to be fitted for N95 respirators that seal on people’s faces. Facial hair is prohibited when performing fitness assessments. .The press release said Sikh security guards served throughout the COVID-19 pandemic while wearing medical masks and were not expected to be clean-shaven. This policy has been introduced at a time when visitors to city sites do not have to wear masks, and it does not apply to people working in other positions. .Due to this policy, the press release said City of Toronto security contractors such as GardaWorld, Star Security, and ASP Security have removed Sikh security guards from city sites. Some guards have been laid off, and others have been sent to new locations. .It added these relocations often come with guards being demoted in rank and salary. In many situations, supervisors and managers have been demoted to security guards. .Sidhu Singh said Toronto Mayor John Tory and the City of Toronto need to find a solution to accommodate these employees. .“Sikh police officers and other frontline care workers have served throughout the pandemic without being required to compromise their faith,” he said. .“There is no reason why Sikh security guards at the City of Toronto cannot be accommodated in accordance with the law.".Tory said the City of Toronto and its contractors have to uphold human rights and comply with relevant laws. .“I've asked City staff to work with all contractors involved to immediately resolve this issue and to be absolutely clear that we respect people's human rights, including freedom of religion, and we expect all contractors to do the same and to properly accommodate employees,” said Tory. .Tory said any employees who were not accommodated for their religious beliefs should be offered remedies. If any people were fired, he said those employees should be rehired. .He said he expects the city “to make any and all changes necessary, up to and including legal action, to make sure Sikh residents and people of all religions are fully respected.".Conservative leadership candidate Pierre Poilievre said this directive was “ridiculous.” .“Anyone who lost their job [including Sikh security guards] should be reinstated and compensated for lost pay,” said Poilievre. .“Gatekeepers who made this dumb decision should be held accountable.”
