News

Letter to the Editor, Toronto Star Re: Canada’s ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Toronto (March 12, 2010) Canada’s ratification of the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an important step forward. Much more than “just another treaty”, the Convention is, essentially, Canada’s promise to protect, promote and advance the rights of people with disabilities. read more

Campaign promotes "Housing is a human right"

Toronto (March 1st, 2010) The Ontario Human Rights Commission, the City of Toronto, the Federation of Rental-Housing Providers of Ontario, the Greater Toronto Apartment Association and the Human Rights Legal Support Centre have joined forces to promote housing as a human right. read more

Housing is a human right

Announcement takes aim at Asian angler attacks

Peterborough Examiner (February 12, 2010) The last three years have seen at least 20 incidents of violence against Asian-Canadian anglers in central Ontario--and that has to stop, says Italo Labignan.

Labignan, the host ofCanadian Sportfishingon TSN, was in Peterborough on Thursday to introduce a new public service announcement. read more

Letter to the Editor, Toronto Star Re: ‘Tenant-friendly' buildings get thumbs up (6 Feb. 2010)

Toronto (February 9, 2010) Making sure rental housing is ‘tenant-friendly’ is a great idea whose time has come. read more

OHRC Chief Commissioner Barbara Hall regrets passing of Keith Norton

Toronto (February 1st, 2010) Ontario has lost a true human rights champion with the passing of Keith C. Norton.

Keith was Chief Commissioner of the OHRC from 1996 to 2005, but his dedication to social justice and his willingness to fight for the rights of everyone in our province was a driving force throughout his career as a lawyer, educator and cabinet minister. read more

Municipal Bylaws must follow Human Rights Code: OMB

Toronto (January 25, 2010) Municipalities have to consider the needs of everyone - including people with disabilities or on social assistance - when making bylaws. The Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) made that ruling late last week, saying “municipalities – and this Board – are bound by the [Human Rights] Code”. read more

Message of condolences

Toronto (January 18, 2010) The Ontario Human Rights Commission is saddened by the news of the passing of Rémy Beauregard, who was Executive Director of the Commission from 1994 to 2001.

Remy made a unique contribution to strengthen human rights institutions both here in Ontario and abroad. He will be missed.

Our thoughts are with his wife, Suzanne Trépanier, and his family, during this difficult time.

Ontario Human Rights Code Cards now available for download

Toronto (January 12th, 2010) You can help advance human rights in Ontario by promoting the dignity and worth of everyone. Print and post Ontario Human Rights Code Cards around your workplace and let clients, co-workers and volunteers know that your organization supports human rights for all Ontarians. download

Tough talk

Thunder Bay (December 10th, 2009) Janice Kakegamic said when she and her friends are standing outside Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School it’s not unusual for people to drive by and yell ‘dirty Indians’ or give them the finger. read more

OHRC asks partners to spread human rights in housing message

Toronto (December 7th, 2009) You can help spread the word that people have human rights in housing, and that the OHRC has published a new policy that provides details about housing providers’ and tenants’ rights and responsibilities. You are invited to print off and post one – or all – of three colour posters included below.

These posters direct people to the OHRC’s website, which contains critical information on human rights in housing that tenants, housing providers and landlords need to know. read more

tenant poster tenants housing provider poster housing providers landlord poster landlords

The OHRC invites public consultation on its human rights and mental health strategy development

Toronto (November 30, 2009) The Ontario Human Rights Commission has released its Human Rights Mental Health Strategy for public consultation. read more

OHRC Chief Commissioner addresses Standing Committee on Social Policy regarding consideration of Bill 168, an Act to amend the Occupational Health and Safety Act with respect to violence and harassment in the workplace and other matters.

Toronto (November 17, 2009) The remarks are available from the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, in English only. read more

Submission to the Accessible Built Environment Standards Development Committee

Toronto (October 16, 2009) read more

Submission

New Policy shows how to provide human rights in rental housing

Toronto (October 5th, 2009) New guidelines will help improve equal access to rental housing for all Ontarians. The Policy on Human Rights and Rental Housing, Canada’s first comprehensive look at how barriers to housing can be indentified and eliminated, was released today by the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC). read more

Comment of the Ontario Human Rights Commission on the City of Toronto's Proposed Zoning By-law

Toronto (September 25th, 2009) read more

Comment of the Ontario Human Rights Commission on Every Door is the Right Door: Towards a 10-Year Mental Health and Addictions Strategy - Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

Toronto (September 17th, 2009) read more

Ontario Human Rights Commission releases its 2008-09 Annual Report

Toronto (August 19th, 2009) The Ontario Human Rights Commission continued to work towards a human rights culture in the province during a year of transition, according to the Commission’s Annual Report for 2008-09, released today. read more

Re: Ratification of UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Toronto (July 28, 2009) Canada and Ontario are renowned for having a strong human rights legal and social policy framework. read more

Establishing eLearning Standards for Human Rights 101

Toronto (July 9, 2009) The OHRC is introducing a new electronic learning series, Human Rights 101. Human Rights 101 will provide a wide audience with an introduction to human rights protections and a basic understanding of how the Human Rights Code can be applied.

With your participation, we hope to make this project useful and practical to meet the needs of your organization and your clients.

The survey is now closed.

Ontario Human Rights Commission files complaints against three public transit providers

Toronto (July 6, 2009) The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) today filed applications at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario against Hamilton, Sudbury and Thunder Bay transit providers, on behalf of transit riders with a vision disability. read more

Adjudication Boards Build Human Rights into Decisions

Toronto (June 18, 2009)

Ontario Human Rights Commission 2009–2012 Business Plan

Toronto (June 5, 2009)

Letter to the Attorney General regarding Police record checks on potential jurors

Toronto (June 4, 2009) The Ontario Human Rights Commission was concerned to learn this past week about broad police record checks read more

Submission to the Employment Accessibility Standards Development Committee Regarding The Initial Proposed Employment Accessibility Standard

Toronto (May 22, 2009)

Letter to the Minister of Labour regarding Bill 168 Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Act (Violence and Harassment in the Workplace) 2009

Toronto (May 22, 2009) The Ontario Human Rights Commission was concerned to learn this past week about broad police record checks read more

Letter to the Globe and Mail Re: Black belt teen strikes back at bully, and rallies community against racism

Toronto (May 1, 2009) I have watched with great interest – and hope – the events unfolding at Keswick High School in the past week. read more

Police Reference Checks Procedure for Toronto Police Services

Toronto (April 30, 2009) Recently, the Toronto Police Services Board announced changes to its policy for agency participation in the Police Reference Check Program for the Vulnerable Sector. read more

Submission to the Ministry of Community and Social Services Regarding the Final Proposed Accessible Transportation Standard

Toronto (April 14, 2009)

The Ontario Human Rights Commission has updated its Policy on Discrimination Because of Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Toronto (April 14, 2009) The revised Policy includes:

changes in human rights procedure resulting from amendments to the Code;
new legal cases about pregnancy and breastfeeding;
more examples of discrimination on the basis of pregnancy and breastfeeding;
more information on pregnancy and breastfeeding and discrimination in Housing and Services, Goods and Facilities; and,
examples of pregnancy and/or breastfeeding discrimination combined with other Human Rights Code grounds.

The Policy was last updated in October 2001. read policy