MP Scott Reid Characterizes Government’s Freeze-out of Lennox & Addington Residents as “Unfair”, “Bizarre.”

Parliament Hill (Ottawa) – Scott Reid, MP (Lanark-Carleton) and Conservative Candidate for Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox and Addington, yesterday brought up in the House of Commons the bizarre hiring practices that discriminate against some persons living in Lennox & Addington.

These unfair hiring regulations freeze out some Canadians from applying for jobs in the Public Service, based solely on where they live. For example, someone living in Napanee would be eligible to apply for a position but someone living in Yarker or Camden East would not be eligible, based solely on their postal code.

TRANSCRIPT OF SCOTT REID’S STATEMENT IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS:

Mr. Scott Reid (Lanark-Carleton, CPC): Mr. Speaker, Canadians who don’t live near Ottawa aren’t even allowed to apply for half the jobs posted today on the government’s employment website, www.jobs.gc.ca. Under the heading “Who can apply”, most postings list only those who-I quote from the website-“have a … postal code beginning with: K1 to K7 . . . K0A to K0J….” etc.

This is unfair, and it’s also bizarre. In my riding of Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox & Addington, for example, people who live in Napanee can apply for jobs because their postal codes begin with “K0J.”

On the other hand, people from Roblin, Camden East, Yarker, Selby, Newburgh, Centreville, Tamworth and Marlbank are ineligible-because their postal codes begin with “K0K”. The fact that Yarker, for example, is closer to Ottawa than Napanee is, or that Selby is part of the Town of Greater Napanee, is somehow treated as if it’s not relevant.

Mr. Speaker, in the name of fair play, I urge the government to abolish all geographic restrictions on Public Service hiring.

For more information or to speak with Mr. Reid
Please call (613) 257-8130 or (613) 947-2277.

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