The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has dismissed a complaint that the University of Northern British Columbia discriminated against a man on the basis of age when it overlooked him for a position at the campus library.
William O'Hara applied to be an archives assistant, an entry-level position lasting one year and providing 20 hours of work.
O'Hara did not mention he was 70 years old but maintained his age was readily apparent form his resume, which showed extensive experience working in libraries, archives and museums and a strong skill set related to research in those settings.
UNBC told him he was "overqualified" but O'Hara maintained that was simply a pretext to dismiss him. His complaint hinged on UNBC's use of that term as well as the term "extended career."
He noted the candidate who got the position, who was in her 20s, was also overqualified in the sense she had a university degree, which was not a requirement for the position.
In response, UNBC said their reference to over qualification recognized his significant experience in archives, but found he lacked the skills for performing the specific duties of the position.
In a decision issued this week, BCHRT tribunal member Jacqueline Beltgens agreed with UNBC, concluding O'Hara "has not alleged facts that are capable of supporting a reasonable inference" that the decision not to hire him was his age.
