A hearing of the Yukon Human Rights Board of Adjudication has been cancelled and the claim against a Watson Lake company dismissed because the man making the accusations didn’t show up to testify.
Nelson Johnny claimed Parhelion Medical Services Inc. had discriminated against him because of his race. The hearing was scheduled to last this entire week.
But when the 10 a.m. start time rolled around Monday, in a meeting room at the Gold Rush Inn, Johnny was nowhere to be found.
The hearing was adjourned for the morning but when he still had arrived by 1 p.m., his claim was dismissed.
Colleen Harrington, the acting director for the Yukon Human Rights Commission, told the panel she had done her best to track Johnny down.
Without a complainant, the commission had no evidence to present, she said.
After the complaint was dismissed, Harrington told reporters this was the first time something like this has happened in the Yukon.
She said lawyers had to look at similar cases in other jurisdictions for guidance on what to do if a complainant is not present.
Harrington said she could not provide any specific details as to what Johnny was alleging since the hearing did not go forward.