NDP says political staffer fired for cause, wants lawsuit turfed
The NDP government said it did nothing wrong when it fired a political staffer in 2024 and has disputed her allegation it was due to racial bias.
In response to a lawsuit launched by Shondell Orinthia Babb, the government said in a statement of defence that she had violated its code of conduct by making derogatory comments about Jewish people.
Babb, a former press secretary to Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine and Housing Minister Bernadette Smith, is seeking damages for wrongful dismissal in a statement of claim in December.
She alleged her firing was a result of discrimination and said the government did not have just cause to terminate her in May 2024. In her lawsuit, Babb describes herself as an African-Canadian.
In its statement of defence, the government argues it had sufficient cause to terminate Babb and asks the court to throw out her lawsuit.
'On… May 24, 2024, the plaintiff made derogatory and discriminatory comments about Jewish people in the presence of other employees, including her supervisor,' reads the government court filing.
'The derogatory comments violated the defendant's code of conduct and respectful workplace policy.'
The court filing doesn't mention the specific comments.
The government said it had received a complaint about Babb as per its code of conduct, but when she met with the human resources director to discuss the issue, the plaintiff 'repeated the derogatory comments and failed or neglected to apologize for the offence that been caused by the said comments.'
As a result of the comments, her response to the complaint and meetings with employees who heard the comments, the government said it decided her termination was warranted and justified under its employment agreement with her, its defence filing said.
Premier Wab Kinew's chief of staff, Mark Rosner, told Babb in a letter dated May 29, 2024, that she had violated the code of conduct and workplace policy and that she was terminated immediately, Babb said in her court filing. She denied violating the policy in her lawsuit.
The government denied the allegation of discrimination and her claim she suffered mental distress as a result of being let go.
Babb was hired on Oct. 18, 2023, the day Kinew was sworn in as premier after winning the election. Press secretaries are political staffers — not civil servants — hired by the party in power.
Before the termination, Babb had been moved from the press secretary role to that of an executive assistant to the sport minister, Babb said in her court filings.
She characterized the assistant job as administrative, which the government disputed in its filings, describing the role as an advisory position that fit her employment agreement. The government said it was not a demotion and her pay had remained the same.
Babb's lawyer filed a notice of motion seeking to disqualify Thompson Dorfman Sweatman, a Winnipeg law firm, from working on the case on behalf of the government.
Babb argued she had used the law firm's services, beginning in 2020, in relation to her hair care business.
She alleged the firm was in a conflict of interest.
The law firm has denied there is a conflict of interest. A judge has yet to rule on Babb's motion.
erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca
Erik PinderaReporter
Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Erik.
Every piece of reporting Erik produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.
Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber.
Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Edmonton Journal
8 minutes ago
- Edmonton Journal
Is JD Vance about to deport a Canadian-born fashion writer who is an undocumented U.S. immigrant?
Article content An American-based Canadian men's fashion writer who shared his story of being an undocumented immigrant in the U.S. put himself in the crosshairs of conservative critics questioning his legal status to remain in the country, including perhaps U.S. Vice-President JD Vance. In response to the heated L.A. protests over Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in the city, Derek Guy, who works out of San Francisco, made a candid post on X detailing his experiences.
35 minutes ago
The man behind 50 years of ferrying West Coast Trail hikers
Headlines Latest News Podcasts (new window) the West Coast Trail legend who's celebrating his 50th season ferrying hikers across the Nitinat Narrows. Photo: CBC Meet Carl Edgar – the West Coast Trail legend who's celebrating his 50th season ferrying hikers across the Nitinat Narrows. Not only does he ferry hikers, he and his family run the famous Nitinat Crabshack, serving up seafood for hungry hikers for many years. Début du widget Widget. Passer le widget ? Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ? CBC News Beginning of list of 13 items. Skip list? The man behind 50 years of ferrying West Coast Trail hikers Robert Miller, billionaire accused of sex crimes, unfit to stand trial, judge rules Canada, allies sanctioning 2 Israeli ministers over Gaza comments F-35 program facing skyrocketing costs, pilot shortage and infrastructure deficit: AG report Fewer Americans are visiting Canada. Ad campaigns assure them they're welcome here This Palestinian boy lost his eye to an unexploded bomb. Thousands of tonnes of explosives may remain in Gaza She came to Canada for university, but she'd never been accepted. The scam cost her $7K Dentists praise Canadian Dental Care program, but also express concern over influx of new patients Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman invited to G7 summit in Alberta: sources They fled their home countries to report from the safety of the U.S. Now, they fear they're in danger Defence targets E.M.'s credibility, judge questions 'consent videos' shown at world juniors sex assault trial As new U.S. travel ban arrives, some Canadian dual nationals are worried Quebec floats cutting services for non-permanent residents End of list of 13 items. Back to beginning of list? 81-year-old has late-stage Parkinson's disease. 1 hour ago Courts and Crime Several countries freeze assets, impose travel bans on Ben-Gvir and Smotrich. AG Karen Hogan's report also says contracts awarded to GCStrategies didn't deliver value for money. Quebec TV ad features a local hotel clerk warmly hugging an American tourist. Unexploded ordnances pose a significant risk for kids in Gaza.
Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Credit rating agency says Manitoba's recent tax changes outweigh affordability offers
WINNIPEG – The Manitoba government is expected to use more 'revenue levers,' similar to its recent income and property tax changes, as part of its plan to reduce the deficit, a credit-rating agency report says. S&P Global Ratings has affirmed the Manitoba government's existing short-term and long-term credit ratings and says the outlook for the province is stable, based in part on expected revenue changes and spending control. 'The stable outlook reflects our expectation that, despite economic growth and trade uncertainty, Manitoba will deploy revenue levers and expenditure management to generate stronger fiscal outcomes in the next two years,' the report, issued May 26, said. The NDP government, elected in 2023, has promised to reduce costs for Manitobans. It has taken out advertising to promote its cut to the provincial fuel tax, an increase to a tax credit for renters and other measures. But the money forgone by the province for those measures is outweighed by recent tax changes that are boosting provincial revenues, a director with S&P said. That includes a change in this year's budget that will no longer see income tax brackets automatically rise in line with inflation. 'That alone is enough to offset all the affordability measures that they're putting in,' Bhavini Patel, director in S&P's Canadian international public finance group, said in an interview. The NDP government has promised to balance the budget before the next election, slated for 2027. That would end a string of annual deficits that stretches back almost continuously to 2009, with the exception of two surpluses. Part of the province's revenue growth has come from recent changes that will see many property owners and income-earners pay more. In last year's budget, the government changed the way education tax credits on property are calculated. The government estimated the change would net the province an extra $148 million a year, although that number is likely to grow due to recent increases in property assessments and taxes levied by school divisions. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. In this year's budget, the government stopped indexing income tax brackets and the basic personal exemption to inflation. By keeping the brackets and exemption constant as wages increase, unlike most provinces, the government is forecasting an extra $82 million in revenue. Finance Minister Adrien Sala said he's not looking at future tax changes aimed at garnering more money, and is expecting an economic boost to increase revenue. 'I think the biggest driver of new revenues will be economic growth,' he said in an interview. He pointed to the recent start of construction of the Alamos gold mine near Lynn Lake as an example. The government is also looking at keeping annual spending growth in check in order to balance the budget, he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 10, 2025.
