{"id":903459,"date":"2026-05-04T07:13:33","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T12:13:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/04\/saskatoon-judge-orders-human-rights-commission-hear-starbucks-language-complaint\/"},"modified":"2026-05-04T07:13:33","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T12:13:33","slug":"saskatoon-judge-orders-human-rights-commission-hear-starbucks-language-complaint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/04\/saskatoon-judge-orders-human-rights-commission-hear-starbucks-language-complaint\/","title":{"rendered":"Saskatoon judge orders human rights commission hear Starbucks language complaint"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div>\n<figure data-aqa=\"featured-image\"><picture><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0227-news-courthouse-1_301716602.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=gaLPbLugqzrWpwQeTYcWnw, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0227-news-courthouse-1_301716602.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=B2D2UnlMF2sLQLSTlev34w 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1200px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0227-news-courthouse-1_301716602.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=564&#038;h=423&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=-watDVOZkLo-NzhRDc0xEg, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0227-news-courthouse-1_301716602.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=1128&#038;h=846&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=k6pbCi1NrPw8o0rT8entHw 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0227-news-courthouse-1_301716602.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=-LXZNrFhfoeIpLE59_QbpQ, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0227-news-courthouse-1_301716602.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=s4PWVXSeMgY4-Qg2XvnS3A 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0227-news-courthouse-1_301716602.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=472&#038;h=354&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=7Ugn5IMKfNWyuvSbfLliBw, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0227-news-courthouse-1_301716602.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=944&#038;h=708&#038;type=jpg&#038;sig=DWltnYKE-kaaauDx7nUjNA 2x\" type=\"image\/jpeg\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0227-news-courthouse-1_301716602.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=CWv3uuYV8tcqyHKwUBtFbg, \nhttps:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0227-news-courthouse-1_301716602.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;type=webp&#038;sig=kw7Jfbll6d8_JusSZxWqlg 2x\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img alt=\"Saskatoon Court of King's Bench\" src=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0227-news-courthouse-1_301716602.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=n8tDonBTEnlQbzkENFd9vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0227-news-courthouse-1_301716602.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=288&#038;h=216&#038;sig=n8tDonBTEnlQbzkENFd9vw,\n                    https:\/\/smartcdn.gprod.postmedia.digital\/thestarphoenix\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0227-news-courthouse-1_301716602.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;w=576&#038;h=432&#038;sig=tT4bCFgvgDQdegpHAtPwLQ 2x\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\" height=\"900\" width=\"1200\"><\/picture><figcaption><span>Last month, Saskatoon Court of King&#8217;s Bench Justice Shawn Smith ordered the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission to reconsider a complaint brought by a woman who says she was denied service in her preferred language while ordering at the Royal University Hospital Starbucks.<\/span> <span>Photo by Michelle Berg<\/span> \/<span>Saskatoon StarPhoenix<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>A Saskatoon Court of King\u2019s Bench judge is ordering the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission to reconsider a complaint brought by a woman who says she was denied service in her preferred language at the Royal University Hospital Starbucks.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section data-aqa=\"identity-sign-in\" data-async id=\"article-block\">\n<header>\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The Star Phoenix\" height=\"37\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/21.1.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-ssp-new.svg\" width=\"280\"><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Get exclusive access to the Saskatoon StarPhoenix ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Get exclusive access to the Saskatoon StarPhoenix ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.<\/li>\n<li>Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n<p>Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account.<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month.<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p>THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n<p>Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access articles from across Canada with one account<\/li>\n<li>Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments<\/li>\n<li>Enjoy additional articles per month<\/li>\n<li>Get email updates from your favourite authors<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div data-auth-component id=\"auth-screen-form\" aria-live=\"assertive\">\n<h2>Sign In or Create an Account<\/h2>\n<p><span><\/span><span>or<\/span><span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Vanessa Casila filed a complaint with the SHRC after a Starbucks employee told her that staff were only permitted to serve customers in English, as per Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) policy.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Casila, who is originally from the Philippines, had tried to place an order in Tagalog, which is her first language. According to the decision, \u201ca number of employees at the RUH Starbucks are also Tagalog-speaking Filipinos.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<div aria-labelledby=\"SaskatoonStarPhoenixAfternoonHeadlines9071748596063957463101322553196544\" data-account-id=\"b9d3df2fccd108b5eff3c44f573b2cd6\" data-aqa=\"widget-newsletter\" data-newsletter=\"single\" data-newsletter-component data-target-list=\"SP_HeadlineNews\" data-widget=\"newsletter\">\n<p>By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p data-async>In a <a data-evt-val=\"{\"control_fields\": {\"mparticle\": {\"keys\": {\"click_source_type\": \"click_source_type\", \"anchor_text\": \"anchor_text\", \"target_url\": \"target_url\", \"layout_section\": \"layout_section\"}, \"mp_event_type\": \"Navigation\", \"extra_keys\": [\"click_vertical_position_percentage\", \"click_vertical_position_pixels\"]}}, \"click_source_type\": \"in-page link\", \"anchor_text\": \"decision handed down last month\", \"target_url\": \"https:\/\/www.canlii.org\/en\/sk\/skkb\/doc\/2026\/2026skkb44\/2026skkb44.html\", \"layout_section\": \"in-page-link\"}\" data-evt=\"click\" data-evt-typ=\"click\" href=\"https:\/\/www.canlii.org\/en\/sk\/skkb\/doc\/2026\/2026skkb44\/2026skkb44.html\">decision handed down last month<\/a>,\u00a0Justice Shawn Smith quashed the commission\u2019s original dismissal and ordered the complaint be reconsidered.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>The commission dismissed Casila\u2019s complaint without investigation or a hearing. In its decision, the SHRC said Casila didn\u2019t provide sufficient evidence showing she was discriminated against on grounds prohibited by law.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>The commission argued the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code does not provide language rights protections in regards to \u201ctransactional means of communication.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Casila claimed she was told the SHA, which operates the RUH Starbucks, required transactions take place in English. A worker told Casila they could be reprimanded by management if they didn\u2019t follow the policy.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>The SHA policy was not outlined in Smith\u2019s decision.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile SHA has now provided me with the relevant portions of its policy, I do not see how I can consider it. The policy was not before the Commission \u2013 it chose not to investigate Ms. Casila\u2019s complaint,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn sum, according to Ms. Casila, the policy prohibits employees from communicating with each other or the public in any language other than English or French, without exception.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p><h2>The complaint<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>Casila\u2019s complaint alleges the policy is a form of discrimination specifically against Filipinos, as they constitute a large amount of the workforce at the RUH Starbucks.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe also contended that, in characterizing non-English languages as disrespectful, the policy implicitly labelled Tagalog speakers, i.e., Filipino customers, as rude,\u201d the decision noted.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMs. Casila also alleged that the policy was based in part on customer complaints about having to hear Starbucks employees speak non-English languages.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>As evidence, she provided an email from December 2022, sent to the SHA from a member of the public, which asked for an English-only policy for its Starbucks employees. In his court decision, Smith said the email contained \u201cuncouth\u201d and \u201cintolerant\u201d commentary.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p><h2>SHA language policy<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section>\n<p>Article content<\/p>\n<p>In an emailed statement, the SHA said in order to provide safe, equitable and consistent care, it has clear, evidence-based policies governing interactions between patients and providers.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/thestarphoenix.com\/news\/local-news\/saskatoon-judge-orders-human-rights-commission-hear-starbucks-language-complaint\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last month, Saskatoon Court of King&#8217;s Bench Justice Shawn Smith ordered the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission to reconsider a complaint brought by a woman who says she was denied service in her preferred language while ordering at the Royal University Hospital Starbucks. Photo by Michelle Berg \/Saskatoon StarPhoenix Article content A Saskatoon Court of King\u2019s<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":903460,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[559,43824],"tags":[5610,43823],"class_list":{"0":"post-903459","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-judge","8":"category-saskatoon","9":"tag-judge","10":"tag-saskatoon"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/903459","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=903459"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/903459\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/903460"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=903459"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=903459"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=903459"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}