'Christianity has destroyed our culture, tradition and way of life' company says in rejection letter to Christian applicant

The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has ruled in favor of a Christian job applicant and has ordered an adventure company to pay $8,500 after the firm discriminated against her because of her faith.

In September 2014, Trinity Western University (TWU) graduate Bethany Paquette applied for the position of an assistant guide with Amaruk Wilderness Corp. However, the company responded to her application through an email telling her she was not qualified for the position in part because of her Christian faith, according to CBC.

"Unlike Trinity Western University, we embrace diversity, and the right of people to sleep with or marry whoever they want, and this is reflected within some of our staff and management," Amaruk wilderness guide Olaf Amundsen told Paquette in the email. "In addition, the Norse background of most of the guys at the management level means that we are not a Christian organization, and most of us actually see Christianity as having destroyed our culture, tradition and way of life."

Paquette then defended TWU's stance on sex outside of marriage, but Amundsen replied again and said the university has discriminated against students by prohibiting same-sex relationships. He also said Trinity Western graduates are not welcome at Amaruk, the National Post reports.

The Christian applicant lodged a complaint with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal against Amaruk and its director Christopher Fragassi-Bjornsen, the report details.

The tribunal heard the complaint in November 2015, even without the presence of the respondents or their legal representative.

In a written response to Paquette's complaint, Amaruk said her application was rejected because she did not meet the basic requirements for the position and not because of her ties with TWU.

On Wednesday, the tribunal released a written decision on Paquette's complaint which orders Amaruk to pay $8,500 to the Christian applicant for injuring her self-respect and dignity. The company was also ordered to reimburse Paquette's various expenses amounting to $661.08, and to halt any other discriminatory practices.

B.C. Human Rights Tribunal member Normann Trerise explained that religious discrimination was one of the reasons why Amaruk rejected Paquette's application. However, he acknowledged that Paquette was not qualified for the position she was applying for, therefore her claim for loss of wages was not awarded.