Table-habit complaint hits snag

The Roxboro family behind a complaint about a boy's table manners and Filipino eating habits at his elementary school has hit a snag as the Quebec Human Rights Commission has rejected their claim that he was discriminated against.

Roxboro resident Maria Theresa Gallardo, her son Luc Cagadoc, 10, and Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR) executive director Fo Niemi, along with members of the Montreal Filipino community, held a news conference last Thursday in reaction to the commission's decision, which was made last month.

"(The ruling) is like rubbing salt in the wound," Gallardo said, adding she has never received an apology from the school or the school board involved. "I think their investigation only looked at one side."

Niemi said if the family contests the ruling, it could cost them up to $10,000 for the hearings before the tribunal.

"Some parts of the complaint were not addressed (in the ruling), such as comments made by the principal to The Chronicle," Niemi said.

They plan to review the commission's written report this week before deciding whether they will contest the ruling to the Quebec Human Rights Tribunal. They have 90 days to appeal to the tribunal.

The Chronicle was the first media to report on the case in its April 19, 2006 edition. The boy, then seven, said he was punished by a school lunch monitor at Ecole Lalande for eating with a fork and spoon. He learned the Filipino custom of using both utensils simultaneously from his Philippine-born parents.

Cagadoc is now enrolled at Ecole Ste. Geneviève and is happy at this school, his mother said.