UK Legislation NDA Ban - Members Statement

U.K. LEGISLATION: NDA BAN - CELEBRATE

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Speaker, I rise today to celebrate an historic piece of legislation that has passed into law in the United Kingdom - an amendment to their employment rights bill banning the use of nondisclosure agreements to silence victims of workplace sexual misconduct or discrimination.

This is due to the active leadership and dogged perseverance of the Can't Buy My Silence Advocacy Group founded by Harvey Weinstein accuser Zelda Perkins and Canadian law professor Dr. Julie MacFarlane. Speaking on the bill, Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister of the U. K., said "The use of NDAs to cover up abuse and harassment is growing - and sadly amongst those in low-income or insecure employment across multiple industries and workplaces. This cannot go on." This puts the U. K. in the same category as Ireland, the United States, and here in Canada, P.E.I.

Speaker, it is my hope that this government will upgrade their jurisdictional scan, keep their campaign promise, and ban NDAs in Nova Scotia.