Bell v Flaming Steer Steak House Tavern: Canada's First Sexual Harassment Decision

Abstract

Bell v Flaming Steer Steak House (1980) was the first sexual harassment decision issued by a human rights tribunal in Canada. Ontario adjudicator Owen Shime decided that sexual harassment constituted sex discrimination as prohibited by the Ontario Human Rights Code. This case comment examines the process by which the tribunal reached its conclusion, and discusses the legal problems raised by sexual harassment complaints. The decision is critiqued for its insufficient analytical insight into a complex subject matter. The author calls for legislation that specifically addresses sexual exploitation rather than diffusing the focus with questions of the link between sexual harassment and sex discrimination.

Keywords: Bell, Flaming, Steer, Steak, ouse, 1980, sexual, harassment, sex, discrimination, human, rights, code, tribunal, board, Ontario, Canada, administrative, adjudication, complaint, historical, history, Backhouse, exploitation, private, feminist, feminism