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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The final testimony wrapped up last week in a Yellowknife woman's human rights case against the GNWT.

Juanita Robinson, currently employed with the territorial government as a consultant with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI), filed a human rights complaint on May 9, 2006, arguing that she was discriminated against by being paid "at a rate of pay less than the rate paid to other employees on the basis of my sex."

At the time of the complaint, Robinson earned an annual salary of approximately $88,000.

The case was first heard by James Posynick of the NWT Human Rights Adjudication Panel from March 7 to March 18. It reconvened June 20 to 23 with the testimony of several more witnesses, including Peter Vician, deputy minister of ITI.

GNWT lawyer Karen Lajoie told Yellowknifer on June 28 both sides are next required to file written arguments on the matter. Robinson has until the end of August, and the GNWT's is due by mid-September. Robinson then has until Sept. 30 to respond to the GNWT's arguments.

Lajoie said she expects Posynick to issue a written decision sometime in 2012.

Robinson was appointed as industrial benefits consultant with ITI in April 1997, according to the complaint. Since 1999, she has raised the issue within the department that given her job duties, her position should be compensated at a director's level, which entails a higher salary. She submitted several revised job descriptions and asked that the position be reclassified. However, she has been denied on both counts.

In 2002, Robinson accepted a 15-month transfer to the Department of Education, Culture and Employment as the director for policy and planning. She alleges that during her absence from ITI, she was replaced by a male senior manager paid $35,000 more per year than her.

In her complaint, Robinson argues that she is often the lowest paid person in the room, even in meetings she was leading.

"(This) is a constant embarrassing and humiliating reminder of how little my contribution is valued," stated Robinson.

She is seeking an adjustment to pensionable earnings, pension contributions and other entitlements to fairly reflect the "value of my position and expectations placed on it" compared to the three director positions in the department. She's also seeking compensation for humiliation under the Human Rights Act and compensation for damages to career opportunities and legal or other expenses incurred because of the complaint. No dollar amounts are specified.

The case was heard on the third floor of the East Yk Centre in downtown Yellowknife.

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