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05-21-2019, 10:40 PM
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| Vegan firefighter files human rights complaint
 Quote: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thund...hter-1.5143655
An Ontario firefighter alleges his human rights were violated when he was not provided sufficient vegan food while battling a massive blaze in B.C.
Adam Knauff has filed a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario against his employer, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, over his treatment and subsequent suspension while fighting a fire near William's Lake, B.C., in 2017.
"The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry discriminated against me and failed to accommodate my sincerely held ethical beliefs (creed) when it failed to provide me with food that accommodated my personal commitment to ethical veganism, and then disciplined me and suspended me because I attempted to assert my right to accommodation of that sincerely held ethical belief," he wrote in his application to the tribunal.
The case centres on whether veganism is a form of creed — the definition of which was expanded by the Human Rights Tribunal in 2015 to include non-secular beliefs.
Knauff, based in Kenora, Ont., has worked with the ministry since 2008 and is often dispatched outside the province. He filed the complaint based on the grounds that his creed was not accommodated.
"I am an ethical vegan in that I not only follow a vegan diet, but I extend the philosophy of non-consumption of animal products to all other areas of my life," he wrote.
"I do not think that humans have the moral right to oppress other beings, or to cause them pain and suffering."
Knauff, now 40, arrived in northern B.C. on July 15, 2017, and was one of about 1,000 firefighters battling a massive forest fire — working 14 to 16 hours per day.
About 10,000 homes were evacuated in William's Lake, and the only store open was a Tim Hortons that police were helping run, he wrote in his complaint. He said the ministry had long known about his dietary constraints, and he had also filled out a standard food information form for the trip.
"On some days during my deployment to William's Lake, I was not provided with any food that was vegan or not otherwise contaminated with animal products, and therefore forced to go hungry," he wrote.
On July 16, he ate salad and side dishes. The next day, he wrote, there were no vegan meals, so he ate plain bagels and coffee from Tim Hortons. The day after that he was given "beans, oatmeal and fruits."
"After working 16-hour days for four days with inadequate nutrition I began to feel physically ill and mentally groggy," Knauff wrote. "Until that point I had been trying to push through my hunger and exhaustion, sustaining myself on nuts and fruits."
He complained to the supervisor who said he'd "work on it," the documents say.
On July 20, he wrote: "The only source of protein in my dinner was a single black bean." The next two days he had "inadequate dinners."
He asked for personnel to buy tofu during one of their service runs. He got three blocks of tofu, gave it to the camp's chef, but never saw it again, he wrote.
Things came to a head on July 23 when he was looking forward to a big barbecue dinner, where vegan burgers would be served.
But, he wrote, the chef handled beef patties before touching the vegan patties with the same gloved hands.
Knauff said he swore at the chef, who swore back. His supervisor gave him a warning, he wrote. "No one seemed to take my ethical beliefs seriously," he wrote.
The next night at dinner, he was served stir-fry with no protein. He was promised beans the following day, he wrote.
He took his plate to his supervisor and asked him if he could see any protein on his plate. The supervisor offered him protein bars. "I was upset and told him 'no,"' and then he told him — with a curse word — to fix the problem.
"I know that I should not have sworn ... but I was starving,exhausted, humiliated and defeated," he wrote. "I had reached my breaking point." But the real breaking point came the next day when he picked up his lunch, where, he alleged, half of the food was non-vegan.
He poured it out in front of food staff and said, repeatedly, "this isn't vegan." That's when his supervisor sent him home. The ministry says Knauff was sent home and suspended three days without pay due to his "inappropriate, insubordinate, unprofessional and aggressive behaviour."
He was also banned from fighting fires outside the province for the remainder of 2017 and all of 2018. The ministry also alleges Knauff threw the non-vegan food at staff, which Knauff denies.
Base camp was difficult for all involved, as was trying to feed 1,000 firefighters with the closest towns with open stores hours away, the ministry says.
It also argues that Knauff's "vegan status is a sincerely held lifestyle choice, but does not meet the legal definition of creed."
It further argues that it "supported the employee and accommodated his food restrictions as if it were a component of his health needs or part of a recognized creed."
Camille Labchuk, the executive director of the advocacy group Animal Justice, said it hopes to intervene in the case because veganism in the workplace isn't limited to Knauff.
"Ethical veganism has never been ruled a form of creed," Labchuk said. "This is a test case, but it's important to have a clear statement from the tribunal."
| It says he's been with the ministry since 2008. Is the veganism, or being a firefighter a recent thing? It doesn't look like he'd be able to survive this long. The guy looks like a meth-head that stole a firefighter outfit.
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Last edited by Presto; 05-21-2019 at 11:03 PM.
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05-21-2019, 10:51 PM
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#2 | | I contribute to threads in the offtopic forum
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This guy is working 14-16 hour days and we can't give this guy some tofu?
What's wrong with our system? This man is saving lives and we can't give him some beans and rice? Make the kid some fajita's and instant noodles.
He doesn't seem like some pansy ass government employee, guy is literally fighting fires and saving lives.
Creed or not, this guy deserves a little bit more... Is it asking that much to help him out?
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05-21-2019, 10:57 PM
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#3 | | I WANT MY 10 YEARS BACK FROM RS.net!
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trying to feed 1000+ must not have been easy
but the guy came out of his way to help fight our disaster doing overtime..least we could do is take diet requests seriously
but seriously what gives you the authority to stand on the soap box and comment on his figure? let me know when you've dropped everything and went to help with a flooding/earthquake/fire before making such remarks
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05-22-2019, 04:33 AM
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#4 | | Meet on the Level and Part on the Square
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I agree with the sentiment that this fellow, because of his noble actions, should have been given whatever food he chose. However, acknowledging a human rights issue based on his ethical beliefs will open the flood gates for many others seeking to make an easy buck down the road. Poor example: I have a deep ethical belief that the VPD should not be handing out so many VI's and therefore I must drive around Vancouver, causing me to pay more money for our ridiculous carbon-taxed gas. Pay me.
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05-22-2019, 04:55 AM
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#5 | | RS.net, helping ugly ppl have sex since 2001
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I sit on the other side of the fence. This mans job is literally to go into places which are in a state of emergency. Things has hectic, and supplies can be hard to find.
It’s not like he’s working outside of a Whole Foods in Vancouver. We’re talking true vegan, not a vegetarian. Ever try and host a dinner with a vegan? It’s bloody tough.
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05-22-2019, 05:44 AM
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#6 | | I answer every Emotion with an emoticon
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Potatoes shouldnt be too expensive and can be filling... like come on...
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05-22-2019, 05:53 AM
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#7 | | Need my Daily Fix of RS
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The guy lost me when the meat gloves touched the vegan patties. Calm down man they're being cooked on the same grill, the world is literally burning down around you, things aren't going to be sunshine and rainbows.
It sounds like they made the effort to get the supplies he requested and unfortunately the tofu sounds like it was misplaced and the chief doing the BBQ who I'm sure was also equally as tired made the mistake of touching the vegan patties with the same gloves that touched the meat patties.
I have dietary constraints myself due to medical reasons and I know how frustrating it can be when your options are limited but you know what I do, I avoid putting myself in those situations.
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05-22-2019, 07:15 AM
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#8 | | RS.net, helping ugly ppl have sex since 2001
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by FerrariEnzo  Potatoes shouldnt be too expensive and can be filling... like come on... | If there is one thing available at these camps, it’s food. Rice, potatoes would be plentiful. There is more to this story.
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05-22-2019, 07:28 AM
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#9 | | Hacked RS to become a mod
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| Quote:
But, he wrote, the chef handled beef patties before touching the vegan patties with the same gloved hands.
Knauff said he swore at the chef, who swore back. His supervisor gave him a warning, he wrote. "No one seemed to take my ethical beliefs seriously," he wrote.
| I was actually ready to support this guy, since he's putting his life on the line to help others, and doing a very important job.
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05-22-2019, 07:44 AM
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#10 | | RS.net, helping ugly ppl have sex since 2001
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Originally Posted by SkinnyPupp I was actually ready to support this guy, since he's putting his life on the line to help others, and doing a very important job. | If the swearing is throwing you off, its a different crowd. I have a few buddies who do forest fire fighting, and worked with many more who I don’t know. Not always the classiest crowd.
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05-22-2019, 08:09 AM
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#11 | | I WANT MY 10 YEARS BACK FROM RS.net!
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ever do physical labour for 16 hours? one might be rather cranky and snap
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05-22-2019, 08:15 AM
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#12 | | SFICC-03*
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no matter what group people belong claim to belong to, there are always going to be these people.
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05-22-2019, 08:36 AM
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#13 | | Rs has made me the woman i am today!
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bruhhhh
gravy and rice
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05-22-2019, 08:38 AM
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#14 | | Hacked RS to become a mod
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Originally Posted by hud 91gt If the swearing is throwing you off, its a different crowd. I have a few buddies who do forest fire fighting, and worked with many more who I don’t know. Not always the classiest crowd. | LOL no it's not the fucking swearing 
It's the illogical thinking of it. Eating vegan because "morals" sure, everyone can have their own morals, and if they don't harm anyone but yourself, go for it.
But the guy bitched because his vegan patty made contact with meat? Fucking come on! That's just being a cunt. No extra animals died because the chef touched his fucking vegan patty  | |
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05-22-2019, 08:54 AM
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#15 | | Willing to sell body for a few minutes on RS
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Originally Posted by SkinnyPupp LOL no it's not the fucking swearing
It's the illogical thinking of it. Eating vegan because "morals" sure, everyone can have their own morals, and if they don't harm anyone but yourself, go for it.
But the guy bitched because his vegan patty made contact with meat? Fucking come on! That's just being a cunt. No extra animals died because the chef touched his fucking vegan patty | I don't eat seafood and I'm not eating any food that seafood has even touched. Like you put a steak on my plate with prawns I'm not eating anything on my plate. Not an allergy, fucking grosses me out you might as well take a shit on my plate. It's like phobia level for me, ever see someone that has a phobia of spiders? Is it rational? nope but it's reality for some. If I watched a chef handle seafood and then take that hand and grab my steak I'm not eating it. As dumb as it sounds that's how I feel about it, I know that it's happened before and I haven't seen it but outta sight outta mind.
I guess what I'm saying is I get where this guy is coming from.
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Last edited by quasi; 05-22-2019 at 09:01 AM.
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05-22-2019, 09:26 AM
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#16 | | Performance Moderator
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I see where he's coming from, but I don't support him... and I can't eat seafood because of an allergy.
But then again, I come from a generation where if you're the "different" one you're not special and you don't inconvenience the entire group for your special needs.
If I know I'm going somewhere seafood related I don't call ahead and expect them to serve me differently or make exceptions for me.. how many 10 course Chinese weddings have I been to where I sit there and eat nothing at all until the crispy chicken plate comes out? I take care of myself and try to minimize my impact on others.
This guy is just being an entitled prick.
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05-22-2019, 09:37 AM
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#17 | | I answer every Emotion with an emoticon
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| Quote:
Originally Posted by SkinnyPupp But the guy bitched because his vegan patty made contact with meat? Fucking come on! That's just being a cunt. No extra animals died because the chef touched his fucking vegan patty | That is how hardcore vegans roll -- their food can't come into contact with stuff that has gotten into contact wiht non-vegan food because their previously vegan food has now been "contaminated".
I am of the opinion that this guy is a prick. I appreciate his efforts to help BC put out wild fires, and I respect his choice of going vegan. At the same time, I think it is ridiculous for him to assume and expect that his special food needs can be accommodated in a wild fire fighting base camp. The world around him is (literally!) burning down, and he expects people to cater to his dietary needs first? When he realizes that it cannot be accommodated, he should have asked to get transferred back / out. The guy is 40 yrs old. Raising a stink like he does now is childish and immature, and non-indicative of his age.
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05-22-2019, 09:47 AM
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#18 | | My homepage has been set to RS
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On the flipside, if he wins, it'll be a win for all those vegans that wouldn't rage like he did.
I'm lactose intolerant and fuck me, it's hard sometimes. tons don't know what things don't have dairy in it. Or even Dairy itself, many think eggs are dairy.
Traveling etc, is always a bitch. I don't want to shit my pants!
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05-22-2019, 09:51 AM
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#19 | | reads most threads with his pants around his ankles, especially in the Forced Induction forum.
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Can we just give some a stack of potato and a lighter so can he just start a camp fire and cook his own potato that way no meant will ever come in contact with his own potato.
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05-22-2019, 09:55 AM
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#20 | | I answer every Emotion with an emoticon
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For those with real medical needs, I understand that it could potentially escalate to a life-and-death situation. At the same time, if someone falls into that category, I don't think they'd be good candidates to go into wild fire fighting situations like we are discussing here. We're talking disaster rescue operations type of thing here. The situation is already stressful and complicated enough as it is. It doesn't help to add to the problem with non-life threatening issues and requirements.
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05-22-2019, 09:58 AM
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#21 | | I bringith the lowerballerith
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I don't think refusing to eat vegan patty because you saw it touch meat is overreacting. Like quasi said, I think there is much more emotion involved in these cases.
However, I also think there is more to the story. My guess is that the guy was provided with the bare basics of veg starch and protein but he probably bitched because he wanted a complete cooked tasty dish instead of just steamed food everyday. Even with the vegan patty incident, I'm sure there was 'uncontaminated' vegan patty's waiting to be cooked if the guy didnt go off on the chef.
Kudos to the guy for being vegan and a fightfighter though, probably done more for Earth than most of us here.
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05-22-2019, 10:12 AM
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#22 | | To me, there is the Internet and there is RS
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I'm curious how many others out of the 1000 that were there were the same level of vegan and if they had any issues. It's a crisis situation, there's a million logistical things to worry about that are more important than the special dietary requirements one person has chosen to have. Especially when it sounds like the food has having to come from all different places, the odds of all of them being able to accommodate this in that kind of situation are slim.
They mention the hours the guy was working but he seems to think the chef (was there only one?) had an easy job and was intentionally making mistakes. Feeding 1000+ people I'm sure that guy was busting his ass for long hours and was exhausted too, so he's probably running on autopilot as much as everyone else to make the 999 other meals.
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05-22-2019, 11:23 AM
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#23 | | Willing to sell body for a few minutes on RS
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Originally Posted by underscore I'm curious how many others out of the 1000 that were there were the same level of vegan and if they had any issues. It's a crisis situation, there's a million logistical things to worry about that are more important than the special dietary requirements one person has chosen to have. Especially when it sounds like the food has having to come from all different places, the odds of all of them being able to accommodate this in that kind of situation are slim.
They mention the hours the guy was working but he seems to think the chef (was there only one?) had an easy job and was intentionally making mistakes. Feeding 1000+ people I'm sure that guy was busting his ass for long hours and was exhausted too, so he's probably running on autopilot as much as everyone else to make the 999 other meals. | That's just the firefighters (1000). There's probably double that, if not more, when you include all the support staff and volunteers.
I have Crohn's disease and several food allergies, so my dietary restrictions are numerous. I would never expect to be accommodated in that kind of a situation. Hell, unless it's family or a close friend, I wouldn't expect anyone to know/care. I just eat what I can and avoid what will harm/kill me. The world doesn't revolve around me or anyone else.
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05-22-2019, 11:31 AM
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#24 | | Head of HR....have a seat on that couch
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How the fuck can anything get done, when everyone wants to be special? They should've left his ass at home base, as soon there wasn't enough food for the guy. The distraction and dump in morale isn't worth it.
No one's discriminating cause he's black, has celiac or is Muslim. He's been in this situation before and should've known what he was signing up for.
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05-22-2019, 02:28 PM
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#25 | | what manner of phaggotry is this
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To the few people here saying they sympathize and understand the guy because you also have a food preference and have had the same thing happen.... did you make a human rights complaint about it? Or are you an adult?
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