HALIFAX, NS — Halifax Transit has come under fire this past week, as an online job ad revealed prejudiced hiring policies. As could be expected, the ad, posted to the HRM’s website, detailed that an ideal applicant would have grade 11 or equivalent education, five years of relevant driving experience, a valid Canadian driver’s license, with the completion of a defensive driver’s course seen as an asset. The condition that has caused controversy, however, is the requirement for Halifax Transit drivers to provide proof that they were born after their calculated due date, with preference given to those born weeks after they were expected.
“Only one in ten babies are considered overdue — born past 42 weeks,” explained Halifax pediatrician Stella Pourtalesi. “The municipality is excluding over 90% of potential applicants — that’s an even lower acceptance rate than Dalhousie’s medical school,” she continued.
Despite the widespread criticism, Halifax Transit has been staunch in their position, claiming they have no intentions to change the policy. “This has always been a cornerstone of our hiring process, and is critical in ensuring that our staff are able to match the level of service we strive for,” said Davis Reade, Executive Director for Halifax Transit. “Being late is what Halifax Transit is famous for, and we want to make sure that each and every one of our drivers can make that happen. There’s no standardized test for lateness, but for our drivers, we want to make sure that being late has been a habit since they exited the womb,” he clarified. Reade asks the public to fully consider the potential impacts of removing the policies before passing judgment. “Can you imagine if we started hiring drivers who had been born prematurely, or heaven forbid, on time? It would be pandemonium! This city has come to expect buses that are five, ten, or even thirty minutes late — an expectation we intend to live up to,” concluded Reade.
By Sam Cutcliffe