UNB seeks judicial review of order to reinstate women's hockey

A March ruling that compels the University of New Brunswick to reinstate a women's varsity hockey team is being fought by the university.

It was announced Thursday that UNB will seek a judicial review of the March 2 ruling by the New Brunswick Labour and Employment Board.

• UNB ordered to reinstate women's varsity hockey team by 2017

"While UNB respects the ruling of the Labour and Employment Board, it disagrees that the reclassification of the women's hockey team was the result of discrimination on the basis of gender," states the university in a news release issued Thursday.

Former UNB women's hockey player Sylvia Brysonlaid a complaint with the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission about the university's 2008 decision to disband the varsity women's hockey hockey team it had operated since 2001 and give the program a lower club status. Bryson argued the decision amounted to gender discrimination as UNB's men's hockey team was maintained.

In its March ruling, the Labour and Employment Board sided with Bryson and ordered UNB to reinstate its women's hockey team and gave the university a year to rewrite its gender equity policy.

UNB said in its news release Thursdaythe implications of the ruling could affect the long-term financial stability of the university.

'Left unchallenged, UNB fears the Labour and Employment Board's ruling could set a precedent for similar complaints against athletics and other areas of the university."