The B.C. Supreme Court shot down the City of Nanaimo's attempt to quash a ruling favouring its former chief financial officer, but the city now says it intends to appeal.
Victor Mema, who served as city chief financial officer from 2016-18, was awarded $650,000 from a B.C. Human Rights Tribunal ruling in 2023 for a discrimination claim after he was fired when the city deemed he improperly used his corporate credit card. The city had sought a judicial review, but in early June was notified that a review would not be heard.
In his ruling at that time, judge Michael G. Thomas stated "the tribunal’s findings were solidly grounded in the facts and flowed rationally and logically from these findings." Further, the tribunal's findings did not fall outside sufficient scope "of appropriate factual findings and inferences."
In a press release Friday, July 4, the city stated it has filed a notice of appeal of the court's decision to deny the judicial review. The city stated that it won't be commenting further on a matter before the courts.
