Halifax bus driver suspended after beating toy seal with stick
Anti-seal hunt protest being held at time of incident
Last Updated: Monday, March 16, 2009 | 8:45 AM NT
CBC News
A Halifax bus driver will be suspended with pay while Metro Transit investigates why he jumped out of his bus and used a stick to beat a toy seal being used as a prop by anti-seal hunt protesters.
"This behaviour is unacceptable. We have met with the operator and appropriate action will be forthcoming," said a news release from Metro Transit general manager Pat Soanes on Monday afternoon.
Police have already said the driver will not face criminal charges.
The incident happened on Saturday as anti-seal hunt protesters set up on Spring Garden Road, the busy downtown Halifax shopping district, as part of an international day of action against seal hunting.
The protesters were using a toy seal covered in fake blood as a prop, to help make their point that sealing is inhumane.
Driver charged us, allege demonstrators
The driver was behind the wheel of his bus when he spotted the protest.
"He exited the bus and went over to the area where the protesters were, and began beating on the stuffed animal seal that was on the ground there," said Staff Sgt. Don Fox of the Halifax Regional Police.
The driver used a stick to beat the stuffed toy.
Fox said police officers removed the driver from the protest area and contacted his supervisors. The driver then got back on his bus and continued with his workday, according to police.
Bridget Curran, who was speaking at the anti-sealing protest when the bus driver approached, says her group felt intimidated and threatened.
"He did actually charge at a group of peaceful demonstrators holding a weapon in his hand," said Curran, who wants the police to lay charges against the driver.
By not pressing charges, Curran said people could perceive that it's permissible to charge at demonstrators if they don't like their message.
Refresher course in development: transit officials
This comes several days after another embarrassing incident involving a Metro Transit bus driver. On Tuesday, a driver initially refused to let a Muslim woman wearing a veil over her face get on his bus.
An eyewitness to that incident told CBC News that the driver was upset that the woman was wearing a headdress that allowed only her eyes to show.
The woman was eventually allowed on the vehicle.
Soanes said the incidents have been tough on the organization.
"It's been a difficult time in the organization for the past number of weeks. And I think I speak on behalf of all the employees when I say that's the case," she said.
"Whether recent events indicate to the contrary, I believe that our employees do an outstanding job day in and day out."
Metro Transit says its will develop a training program for its operators, including refresher courses in customer relations, diversity training and conflict management.
