June 27, 2008
This past year at the Ontario Human Rights Commission was the starting point of transition to a new human rights system for Ontario. An important focus of our work was — and continues to be — getting ready for the “new Commission.” As our mandate changes, and the transformation continues, we are restructuring the Commission to meet our new opportunities. Our strategic plan, to be released later this year, will help us set priorities and concentrate our energies. We already have a long list of things to do!
We will need to be clear about what we can accomplish within our resources, and we must carefully choose work that will offer the most benefit to the most vulnerable people in our society.
You can see some clues about what the future will look like in the projects we completed this year. For example, “Fishing Without Fear,” the report on our inquiry into assaults on Asian Canadian anglers, was the result of an extensive partnership that drew together community groups, law enforcement, provincial and municipal government and the media. We worked together to understand the real nature of the issue — and then to develop solutions. It was not just an OHRC project — it was an “everyone” project.
In the same way, our soon to be released report on rental housing and human rights is the result of extensive consultations with individuals, groups and communities across Ontario. We created a platform for people to speak and share their stories and concerns, to identify themes and recommend solutions, and to take collective action province-wide.
Both “Fishing Without Fear” and the housing consultation reflect the Commission’s increasing emphasis on being a catalyst for dialogue and positive change. Throughout last year, we promoted open, respectful debate on some issues that were sure to provoke both positive and negative responses. Examples include our ongoing discussions on Islamophobia, freedom of expression and the role of the media in shaping public perceptions, police record checks and their impact on people with mental health issues, and racial profiling.
These are just a few of the “tough” issues that we all need to address. Our mandate is to shine a light on them and promote positive debate as a starting point for change.
In the coming year, we will focus our efforts on larger systemic or public interest issues, and will work with communities to translate these into solutions for people across the province. That’s the approach we took when working with transit providers across Ontario. We used a Tribunal decision to make sure persons with disabilities have the same access to transit across the province.
An essential part of this work will be building the foundations for new partnerships. We already enjoy many that are successful to use as starting points. For example, for three years in a row, we have worked with students from Seneca College to create marketing campaigns on human rights issues. The graphic designs on this year’s theme, the transformation of the human rights system, are featured on the cover and throughout this Annual Report.
The reason for focusing on partnerships is simple — we can’t do it alone. For the Commission to succeed in advancing human rights, we need to work with communities, government, the private sector and individuals across Ontario to make sure the human rights written on paper are the rights enjoyed by all Ontarians.
We could not have begun the transformation, or continued it this year, without the contributions of the talented staff team here at the Commission. Our staff continue to do excellent work in the midst of change. Some have moved on, but I hope to work with them again as they continue to share their commitment to human rights in their new roles in government and the community.
I have also been strongly supported by Commission members who bring their diverse experience, knowledge and passion for human rights to all of our work. Their positive vision for the new system is inspiring.
I say thank you — to staff, to my fellow Commissioners, and to the many people and groups in communities across the province, who have worked tirelessly to advance human rights. This kind of collective action is reflected in the activities outlined in this report — and is the foundation for the future as our transformation continues.
Yours sincerely,
Barbara Hall, BA, LL.B, Ph.D (hon)
Chief Commissioner
June 27, 2008
The Honourable Chris Bentley
Attorney General
720 Bay Street
Toronto ON M5G 2K1
Dear Minister:
Under section 31(1) of the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Ontario Human Rights Commission is required to submit a report on the Commission’s activities for the previous fiscal period by June 30th of each year, to be tabled in the Legislature.
In this regard, I am pleased to provide you with the Commission’s Annual Report of its activities from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008.
Yours sincerely,
Barbara Hall, B.A, LL.B, Ph.D (hon.)
Chief Commissioner
In 2006, Bill 107 – The Human Rights Code Amendment Act set the stage for a major transformation of Ontario’s human rights system. This legislation, which comes into effect on June 30, 2008, will lead to fundamental changes in the way the Ontario Human Rights Commission operates.
On this date, the Commission’s responsibility for processing new individual human rights complaints will shift to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. The Tribunal will deal with all claims of discrimination (applications) filed under the Ontario Human Rights Code, and will help resolve these applications either through mediation or adjudication. A new body, the Ontario Human Rights Legal Support Centre, will offer independent claim-related services to individuals throughout Ontario. Services will range from information, advice and support to legal representation on applications before the Tribunal.
The Ontario Human Rights Commission will expand its work to promote, protect and advance human rights. The Commission’s focus will be to address broad public interest or systemic issues of discrimination. Activities will include research and monitoring, policy development, and education and training. The Commission will also conduct targeted inquiries, and may initiate claims or intervene in important cases before the Tribunal. Through outreach, cooperation and partnership, the Commission aims to build an active human rights culture in Ontario.
During the past year, the Commission has begun to review and redirect its activities and services to reflect its new mandate, while continuing to process individual complaints. The Commission has also been working with the Tribunal and the Legal Support Centre to plan for the six-month transition period that begins when the legislation comes into effect on June 30, 2008. The Commission will stop accepting new claims after this date.
Thereafter, new claims can be made by filing an application directly with the Tribunal. The Commission will continue to process existing cases already in its system until the end of 2008. Any cases not resolved by December 31, 2008 may be shifted to the Tribunal, at the option of the person bringing the claim. A fast track option to take existing cases to the Tribunal after June 30 will also be offered.
To make sure its operations match its new mandate, the Commission reviewed and approved its new vision and mission statement in 2007. This will serve as a benchmark for its future activities.
Our vision is:
An Ontario in which everyone is valued, treated with dignity and respect, and where human rights are nurtured by us all.
Mission:
The OHRC, an independent statutory body, provides leadership for the promotion, protection and advancement of human rights, and builds partnerships across the human rights system. In pursuit of our vision, we will:
To make sure the transformation is a success, the Commission will ensure that its operations offer ongoing opportunities for communities to have a voice in the issues it deals with and the services it provides. Community consultation was one of the first steps the Commission took in its strategic planning process.
During August and September 2007, communities across Ontario were asked to share their views on how the Commission could best fulfill its new mission and vision. Public sessions were held in Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Ottawa, Kitchener-Waterloo and Toronto and an on-line survey was posted to the OHRC website. Commission staff and other colleagues in government were also consulted. In total, more than 170 community members and individuals responded to questions about what issues and communities need urgent attention, and how best the Commission can carry out its different functions. The full details are published on the Commission’s website.
As well, in the fall of 2007, the Ministry of the Attorney General sponsored four public meetings on Bill 107 and the new human rights system. Community members had the opportunity to hear representatives from the Commission, the Tribunal and the new Legal Support Centre speak about their plans for the future. The sessions provided more valuable insight that is helping the Commission in its strategic planning.
The Commission is in the process of preparing our strategic plan to guide its activities beyond the transition period and into the years ahead. While our Strategic Plan will be completed and released later this year, several key work areas have already emerged:
This Annual Report includes highlights of Commission activities in each of these areas, as well as its work in addressing individual human rights claims.
One of the challenges of transforming Ontario’s human rights system is to let Ontarians know about the changes. The Commission turned to the artists of tomorrow to help create a new vision of the changing system. For the third year in a row, the Commission teamed up with students and faculty from Seneca College’s graphic design program at York University to develop human rights awareness campaigns. This year’s goal was to develop concepts that would effectively communicate the transformation of the human rights system.
The students started with little knowledge of the human rights system. By the end of the six-week project, with the support and mentoring of faculty and Commission staff, the students had a solid understanding of how Ontario’s changing system promotes and protects human rights across the province. This understanding is reflected in the exciting, fresh designs each of seven groups created.
While the overall campaign was designed to reach all Ontarians, each group focused on a different target audience, including young adults entering the workforce, working age adults, older workers, newcomers to Ontario, and underserved communities with little awareness of human rights protections. Other audiences included opinion leaders and human rights advocates, human resources and legal professionals, social workers and front-line staff. Finally, audiences included people who have made or might make human rights complaints, and the people and organizations that might have to respond to these complaints.
While only one of the proposed campaigns could be chosen for use in the transition campaign, all of the work was of such high quality that the Commission will be seeking other ways to use key elements in other projects. One example is this Annual Report. The cover and each chapter feature the design and messaging of the various student teams. As a collective work, these campaigns send a youthful and strong message for human rights in Ontario.
As part of its consultation on discrimination in rental housing last Spring, the Commission heard from Aboriginal organizations and individuals and others on the disparities between Aboriginal people and the rest of the population in terms of access to adequate and affordable rental housing. The Commission also heard about screening barriers faced by prospective Aboriginal tenants, particularly women and youth, as well as other forms of discrimination that will be identified in its consultation report for release this year.
In May 2007, the Report of the Ipperwash Inquiry looking into the shooting death of Dudley George was released, identifying matters related to Ontario’s Human Rights Code, the Commission’s definition of racism, as well as the importance of data collection in bias-free policing. The Chief Commissioner wrote to the Premier offering the Commission’s assistance to implement aspects of the report.
Meanwhile, the Commission continued to engage Aboriginal organizations through its law enforcement outreach initiative, including the Chief Commissioner speaking at “Systemic Racism in the Justice System” conference hosted by Grand Council Treaty No. 3 this past February in Kenora.
In August, the Chief Commissioner wrote a public letter to the Prime Minister urging the Government of Canada to reconsider its opposition to the draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The Declaration was adopted by the United Nation’s General Assembly on September 13, 2007. Canada was one of four countries that voted against its adoption.
Marking its third year of participation, the Commission again hosted an information booth at the annual Canadian Aboriginal Festival and pow-wow in Toronto last November where staff handed out information and spoke to hundreds of visitors.
And the Commission continued its ongoing relationship with the Union of Ontario Indians, while looking forward to their involvement at the annual conference of the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies being hosted by the Ontario Human Rights Commission this Spring in Niagara.
The Commission continued to engage with police organizations to support efforts to address human rights concerns. The efforts included public education and liaison activities with several police organizations including the Hamilton Police, the Ottawa Police, the Ontario Police College, and the First Nations Chiefs of Police Association.
The Commission also continued a major initiative to work with the Toronto Police Services Board (TPSB) and the Toronto Police Service (TPS) to support the TPS in identifying and responding to human rights issues and concerns, both within the organization and in its services to the public.
In July 2007, the three parties signed a Human Rights Project Charter, which formalized a three-year collaborative project to enhance realization of human rights and anti-racism in TPS. The Charter established project aims and aspirations, roles of the involved parties, administrative structures and identified four key areas for change focus: 1) recruitment, selection, promotion, 2) training, 3) accountability, and 4) public education.
As the project moved into its implementation phase in the later part of 2007, subcommittees were set up to focus attention on the four key identified areas. These committees, which included members from all three sponsoring organizations as well as public representatives, aimed to jointly identify specific issues and concerns, strategies to address these, and eventually oversee implementation of an intervention plan to be developed by June 2008.
The Toronto Police Service Human Rights partnership represents a new and promising collaborative approach to systemic human rights change that the Commission would like to pursue in other sectors as it continues in its new mandate this coming year.
The Commission, along with several other organizations across Canada, has lent its expertise and support to the Canadian Commission for UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Social and Cultural Organization) in developing and advancing a Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination (CMARD). The Coalition’s goal is to establish a network of municipalities interested in sharing experiences and expertise and committed to adopting a Plan of Action to address racism and discrimination within their jurisdictions. Coalitions are also being formed and expanded in Europe, Asia and the Pacific, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Arab Region.
To date, eight Ontario municipalities have joined the Coalition: Windsor, Toronto, Thunder Bay, Oshawa, Tecumseh, Sudbury, Vaughan and Oakville. Twenty-six municipalities across Canada have joined.
In August 2007, the Commission took information about the Coalition to the Annual General Meeting of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario in Ottawa. In addition to having a display throughout the conference, the Chief Commissioner hosted a special breakfast discussion about the Coalition.
In October, a community coalition in Windsor – one of the first communities in Canada to commit to the Coalition – organized a rally that attracted over 100 youth and their families from the Windsor & Essex County area. The event featured information about race, ethnocultural relations and diversity, cultural music, entertainment and food. The rally’s overall goal was to create awareness and promote prevention of racism and discrimination in our communities, schools and organizations. At a booth designed under the theme of “I Can,” the Commission ran an interactive activity inviting ideas on what youth can do to support CMARD in their community.
In February 2008, Commission staff attended a meeting of interested parties from the Region of Waterloo, including the cities of Waterloo, Cambridge and Kitchener, to promote the benefits of getting involved in CMARD.
The Commission also took part in a national meeting of the Pan-Canadian Working Group hosted by the Canadian Commission for UNESCO to discuss expanding the Coalition and involving new sectoral partners.
Through various initiatives, including its inquiry into assaults on Asian Canadian anglers, the Commission will continue to promote CMARD to municipalities across Ontario, as a positive and collaborative framework for addressing racism and discrimination.
The Commission cooperates at both the international and the national levels to promote and advance human rights. On the national level, the Commission continued to play an active role in the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies (CASHRA). The Commission serves on various committees and special projects, such as the team working on a website commemorating the 60th anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and will host the 2008 annual conference, which takes place in Niagara Region this June.
In October 2007, the Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario joined the Commission at an event hosted by the Canadian Hearing Society, to launch the Commission’s first-ever sign language video.
The multi-format video, based on the Commission’s latest brochure called Disability and the Duty to Accommodate: Your Rights and Responsibilities under Ontario’s Human Rights Code, is available in American Sign Language and Langue des signes québécoise as well as English/French captioning and audio.
Disability is the number one ground of discrimination cited in complaints filed at the Commission. While the Commission has done much to raise awareness and advance human rights for persons with disabilities, this video will help make that information more accessible to people who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing.
The Canadian Hearing Society first suggested the idea of a sign language video and provided guidance. For the Record Productions Inc. produced the video, and Fourth Wall Media/One Stop Network graciously donated three months of advertising space for a sign language video announcement, a good example of what can be accomplished through collaboration.
The Commission partnered with the Archives of Ontario to help develop and launch an on-line exhibit celebrating the life of Dr. Daniel D. Hill, first Director of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. The exhibit contains anecdotes, photos, letters, audio and video files, and offers a fascinating insight into the challenges Dr. Hill faced as he worked to achieve a culture of human rights in Ontario. The Commission website includes a link to this important piece of human rights history.
As the Commission continues in its transformation to the new system, public education will play a more critical role. The Commission has been focusing more on events that deal with preventing Code violations and advancing human rights on a broad scale. It has also been seeking opportunities to enhance relationships with key sectors, such as housing and policing that are in line with its strategic planning. The Commission’s work with Toronto Police Service is a good example of how education will be delivered more through community outreach, capacity building, cooperation and partnership initiatives.
The Commission continues to advance understanding of human rights through media inquiries and interviews, publications in various languages, new brochures on gender identity, disability and accommodation, family status and racism and racial discrimination, public awareness campaigns, information booth displays and its website.
In 2007-08, the Commission received 173 invitations and took part in 91 public education events. The Chief Commissioner spoke at a number of these events including:
In May 2007, the Commission released the results of its groundbreaking initiative on discrimination based on family status, and became the first jurisdiction in Canada to examine the human rights implications of barriers faced by families who are caring for children, aging parents or relatives, and family members with disabilities.
The Cost of Caring: Report on the Consultation on Discrimination on the Basis of Family Status and the Policy and Guidelines on Discrimination Because of Family Status highlight the results of the Commission’s public consultation on family status, and provide employers, landlords and service providers with guidance on rights and responsibilities under the Code.
In the consultation, the Commission heard that caregivers are often at a significant disadvantage in gaining access to employment, housing and services. With changes to family structures such as the aging population, the movement of women into the paid workforce, and increasing numbers of lone-parent families, family caregivers find themselves under increasing pressure. Workplaces have been slow to adapt to the changing realities of the family, and work-life balance issues are leading to a growing need for workplace accommodation. This new policy framework will help workplaces meet their responsibilities and recognize family status as a human rights issue.
In February 2008, the Commission released a Draft Policy on Mental Health Discrimination and Police Record Checks for public consultation. The Commission has found that certain requirements, policies and practices relating to non-criminal police record checks can have a discriminatory impact on persons with mental health-related disabilities seeking employment. Such practices may also affect other people identified by Code grounds.
Police record checks are much broader than criminal record checks. They also include information about non-criminal contact with police, such as transfers to a medical facility, or being a victim or witness.
The new policy will provide information on disability-related concerns about police record checks, how the Code applies, and on the responsibilities of all parties involved to make sure policies and practices are not discriminatory.
The Commission has posted the draft policy on its website, and is directly contacting a range of people and organizations across Ontario for input, including police services and their boards, the mental health sector, providers of services for vulnerable persons, volunteer sector organizations and government ministries. The finalized policy will be released this coming year.
Last winter, the Commission completed a public consultation as a first step in updating its Policy on Discrimination and Harassment Because of Gender Identity. This update will reflect important case law advances and policy developments. One goal of the update is to make the policy more useful for persons who identify as transsexual, transgendered, intersex or gender variant. It will also include more information to help landlords, service providers and other organizations to understand their obligations and what steps they can take to prevent discrimination, provide accommodation and to address complaints.
In March 2008, the Commission released a new version of its Guidelines on Developing Human Rights Policies and Procedures (previously called Developing Procedures to Resolve Human Rights Complaints Within Your Organization). This policy contains the Commission’s interpretation of provisions of the Ontario Human Rights Code relating to organizational policies and procedures to prevent and address human rights issues.
Employers, housing providers, governments and service providers all have an obligation to make sure that human rights are respected. This publication gives some practical guidance on creating the policies and procedures needed to make this possible. The publication provides valuable advice on developing effective and fair policies, procedures and practices to prevent human rights infringements and to respond to human rights issues, such as harassment, discrimination and accommodation needs.
In partnership with Carswell Publishing, the Commission released its 2008 edition of Human Rights Policy in Ontario. This print compendium of all the current Commission policies was published in November 2007. Electronic versions of the policies are also available on the Commission’s website.
In the summer and fall of 2007, the Commission held a public consultation on discrimination in rental housing. Almost 130 organizations and over 100 individuals took part in consultation meetings held across the province. The Commission also received more than 60 formal submissions, and over 100 individuals wrote in or completed an on-line survey.
The input we received was substantive and thoughtful. The Commission will share the findings publicly in 2008, and will use what we learned to develop new policy guidelines to help tenants, landlords, government and other responsible institutions and service providers prevent and address housing discrimination.
In the meantime, the Commission continues to promote and advance understanding of human rights in housing. Last October, Chief Commissioner Barbara Hall met with Mr. Miloon Kothari, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Housing, and also took part in his public session. As well, through letters to the editor and a letter to a municipal council, the Commission continues to add a human rights perspective to issues such as regulating student housing, avoiding NIMBYism and discrimination against persons with mental health issues, and the illegal discriminatory impact of rent-to-income ratios.
In late 2007, the Commission led discussions to increase accessibility of driver education for persons who are deaf, deafened and hard of hearing. Young Drivers of Canada, the Canadian Hearing Society, and the Ministry of Transportation have each made commitments that will improve access.
Young Drivers of Canada will:
The Canadian Hearing Society will provide assistance and services in areas such as:
The Ministry of Transportation will look for areas to remove legislative/regulatory barriers to on-line instruction, and to examine avenues for funding this project in future.
In February 2008, the Commission submitted comments to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, which is drafting policies on establishing and ending physician-patient relationships. In the past, the Commission has received complaints and heard community concerns about a number of screening and treatment practices.
In this submission, the Commission commended the College for including Human Rights Code grounds and issues in its draft policies, and suggested some revisions. One suggestion was to clarify that Code provisions relating to sex also include gender identity and expression.
The Commission also voiced concerns over the draft policy’s handling of discretionary decisions made by doctors in accepting patients and providing care. The draft policy may in fact lead to confusion and to human rights complaints because doctors may see it as condoning practices that the Commission views as discriminatory. Areas that need a closer look include:
The draft policies are a solid first step in addressing many of the barriers that prevent some Ontarians from equitable access to the health care services they need. The Commission will continue to work with the College towards the shared goal of equitable access to health care for all Ontarians.
For many people, access to transit makes the difference between isolation and loneliness, and full participation in the life of their community. That’s why in August 2007 the Commission made a submission to the Accessibility Standards Development Committee of the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario, about its Initial Proposed Transportation Accessibility Standard under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA).
The Commission views these draft standards as a setback for Ontarians with disabilities in a number of areas. For example, most of the accessibility requirements for transportation vehicles apply only to new vehicles, leaving barrier removal on existing vehicles to the discretion of transportation providers. Because transportation providers can still buy non-accessible second-hand buses, the standards would allow them to continue to make non-inclusive design choices.
Also, the proposed Transportation Standard effectively defers equality for persons with disabilities to an unacceptably distant future. For example, it does not require transportation providers to announce stops until 3 – 18 years after the standards are adopted, when precedents already exist for almost immediately putting these procedures or systems in place. A 2007 Human Rights Tribunal decision ordered the Toronto Transit Commission to begin announcing stops within 30 days of the decision.
While the AODA has great potential to positively affect the lives of persons with disabilities, it will not do so if the standards being proposed are less than existing rights. The Commission will continue to monitor and advocate for clear, enforceable standards for transit accessibility, adequate government funding for transit accessibility, and full compliance with the requirements of the Ontario Human Rights Code.
In July 2007, Lepofsky v. Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario found that the TTC’s failure to ensure announcements of all stops on buses and streetcars violated the human rights of persons with disabilities, particularly riders with visual impairments.
With this precedent in place, the Commission is working to expand call-outs across Ontario. The recent Tribunal decision shows that a policy of announcing stops only upon request is not enough – the only way to ensure an accessible system is to call out all stops.
In a letter to operators across Ontario, the Commission asked transit services to review their accessibility policies and practices and inform the Commission on the steps they were taking to make sure all transit stops were announced. The Commission is reporting publicly in May 2008, and will then consider its next steps. Its goal is to have the effect of the Tribunal’s decisions applied across Ontario, and make sure the duty to accommodate riders with disabilities is respected.
In April 2007, the Commission and the Ministry of Education signed a settlement to resolve a complaint about the Education Act. The Commission-initiated complaint alleged that the Act’s safe schools provisions had a disproportionate impact on racialized students and students with disabilities. In this comprehensive settlement, the Ministry agreed to take a variety of critical steps, including legislative changes to remove the “zero tolerance” focus, and changes to curriculum, staffing, training and data collection policies.
Over the past year, the Commission has worked with the Ministry to implement the agreement including:
The Ministry has made notable progress in meeting the terms of this settlement, and the Commission will continue to monitor and support the Ministry in taking the next steps towards safe and healthy schools.
Since the settlement in 2005 of its complaint initiated against the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), the Commission has continued to work with TDSB to adjust its safe schools policies and procedures to eliminate the potential for discrimination.
This work became even more critical in May 2007, when the TDSB had to cope with the shooting death of a student in one of its high schools.The TDSB created the School Community Safety Advisory Panel, led by lawyer Julian Falconer, to inquire into the death of Jordan Manners at C. W. Jefferys Secondary School.
Commission staff offered advice and assistance throughout the panel’s research and reporting stages. Examples of Commission involvement included providing a submission during the consultation process, and working with the panel to present “Breaking the Logjam: A Blueprint for Progress on School Safety” in November 2007. This one-day syposium offered an opportunity to take critical look at previous reports, recommendations and action plans not necessarily implemented over the last few years, and to consider what was needed to bring these to fruition.
In January 2008, the panel released a 1,000-page report that included dozens of recommendations to enhance equity, human rights and safety in Toronto schools. The Commission will continue to offer assistance to the TDSB on creating an equitable learning environment that is safe and effective for all students.
In November 2007, the Commission launched an inquiry following media reports and community concerns about a number of incidents across south and central Ontario in which Asian Canadian anglers were physically or verbally assaulted while fishing.
The Inquiry, launched in partnership with the Metro Toronto Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic (MTCSALC), invited people who had either encountered or witnessed incidents while fishing to share their experiences by calling a telephone hotline or completing an on-line survey. The Commission received over 30 accounts from communities in the areas of Aurora and Richmond Hill, Ottawa, and Lake Huron. The majority of submissions came from three areas: Lake Simcoe, Peterborough, and the Rideau Locks, all popular areas for locals and tourists who enjoy water sports, including angling.
In a December 2007 preliminary report, the Commission highlighted the role of racism in these events, citing accounts of racial harassment, ranging from verbal assaults using racial slurs, to destruction of fishing equipment, to stone-throwing. Racialized anglers felt their physical and psychological safety and integrity threatened, and in some of the cases under police investigation, they were subjected to physical violence.
The report also outlined the profound impacts of the incidents on persons involved, their friends and families, and the Asian Canadian community as a whole. Anglers who contacted the inquiry expressed a sense of helplessness or fear of reprisal in reporting incidents to authorities.
A number of submissions raised concerns about conserving and protecting fish stocks. This is important in environmental terms, and is also vital to the livelihoods of many Ontarians. However, it was disturbing that many submissions raising conservation concerns showed the very kind of stereotyping and name-calling that the Commission is fighting against. The Commission was also concerned that Asian Canadian anglers were viewed as outsiders in relatively homogeneous communities and assumed to be breaking the law. In fact, there was no evidence of illegal fishing in any of the cases investigated by police.
In the first months of 2008, the Commission met with various organizations, including police services, municipal governments, provincial ministries, school boards, community organizations and fishing/sporting groups to create an action plan to address the root causes and prevent these kinds of incidents from happening in the future. A report outlining over 50 commitments is being released in May 2008.
In March 2008, the Commission had before it complaints filed against Maclean’s magazine related to an article entitled “The future belongs to Islam.” The complainants alleged that the content of the article and the refusal by Maclean’s to provide space for a rebuttal violated their human rights. The Commission found the matter not to be within its jurisdiction for dealing with a complaint.
At the same time, the Commission has a broader role to speak out on issues that may cause tension and conflict or discrimination against protected groups. The Commission strongly condemns any stereotyping of racialized communities, including Islamophobic portrayals of Muslims, Arabs and South Asians, as being contrary to the values enshrined in our human rights laws.
Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of our democracy, but it is just one of many rights included in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, such as freedom from discrimination. No single right is more important than another, and the enjoyment of one depends on the enjoyment of them all.
The human rights system exists in Canada, in part, to shine a light on prejudice and to foster debate and action. The Commission will continue to take an active part in encouraging dialogue and suggesting a way forward.
The Ontario Human Rights Commission provides information to tens of thousands of Ontarians each year, helping individuals and organizations prevent or resolve human rights concerns.
Between April 1, 2007 and March 31, 2008, the Commission dealt with:
118 cases or 4.8% were dismissed based on preliminary objections (s.34 of the Code), on average at 10.5 months, because:
1,313 or 53.1% of cases were mediated or settled by the Commission or resolved between the parties, on average at 10.5 months:
513 cases or 20.7% were withdrawn by the complainant, some due to settlements between parties outside the Commission’s process, on average at 7.5 months.
533 cases or 21.5% received a Commission decision based on the findings of its investigation (s.36 of the Code), on average at 24.2 months:
The Commission’s litigation of cases before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and at higher courts has been instrumental in representing the public interest, enforcing the Code, promoting the Commission’s policies, negotiating, obtaining and enforcing strong public interest remedies, and setting precedents that help to advance human rights jurisprudence in Ontario, across Canada and internationally. Under the new human rights system, the Commission will continue to represent the public interest by conducting targeted public inquiries, and may initiate applications before the Tribunal or seek to intervene in important cases.
In 2007-08, the Commission was involved in:
As of March 31, 2008, the Commission is currently litigating:
Some of the significant settlements, decisions and court cases over the past year are included below.
A settlement between the Commission and the Ontario Ministry of Education will promote school safety while ensuring that all students, including students with disabilities and racialized students, are given the opportunity to reach their full potential. The settlement follows a Commission-initiated complaint filed against the Ministry in July 2005, which alleged that the application of school discipline legislation and policies were having a discriminatory impact on racialized students and students with disabilities.
Commission concerns were based on submissions received during its Racial Profiling Inquiry, its consultation on disability issues in Ontario’s education system, and an external report prepared for the Commission, which supported these concerns with evidence from Nova Scotia, the United States and Britain.
The Ministry has agreed to initiate or continue developing measures that will promote compliance with the Code. These include:
The Commission reached settlements in related complaints against the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) and two of its gaming operations. The complaints were filed by employees who alleged managers at Woodbine Racetrack Slots and Casino Sault Ste. Marie violated Code provisions on an employer’s duty to accommodate staff experiencing disability. The employees alleged that they were required to return to work before their doctor recommended, return to activities not advised by their doctor, and produce a doctor’s note dated the same date as their absence due to medical disability.
The terms of the settlements will help ensure human rights are respected when applying corporate disability policies and procedures within all OLG workplaces, which employ nearly 8,000 workers at 23 locations. They also clarify that OLG and its gaming operators are responsible for the actions of third-party disability case management service providers.
Under these settlements, OLG will modify its policies to make sure that a request for medical documentation dated the same date as an absence is reasonable in the circumstances, given that an employee may not be physically able to see a doctor the same day. Corporate and management responsibility for maintaining confidentiality of medical and related information was also addressed.
OLG has agreed, within nine months, to hire an external consultant to review and update its disability accommodation policy, form a new independent review committee with both OLG management and staff, and develop an internal complaint mechanism, which the committee will oversee and monitor.
Within a year, OLG has agreed to train all staff members and its disability case management service provider in the new policy and complaints mechanism, with an emphasis on disability and the duty to accommodate, and focus training on the broad range of disabilities covered by the Code and the responsibilities of both OLG and its disability case management service provider under the legislation.
This case involved a complaint filed by Delano Brown, who alleged the private post-secondary career college discriminated against him in his efforts to enrol in a Music Business Administration study program.
Mr. Brown, a blind student, required specially outfitted computer equipment and written course materials in alternative (electronic or audio) format. Although he passed the entrance test, was accepted into the program and paid his enrolment fee, former administrators testified that they either did not know how to pursue the matter of accommodation or did not consider it within the scope of their responsibilities, and left these issues to Mr. Brown to arrange. They also denied Mr. Brown’s request for an enrolment extension to complete arrangements for his disability-related accommodation needs and financial support.
The Tribunal found that Trebas Institute discriminated against Mr. Brown by failing to take appropriate steps to accommodate him and by denying his request to defer enrolment. Trebas Institute was also found to have misapprehended its legal obligation to remove barriers and take responsibility for the accommodation process.
The Tribunal ordered that Trebas must not apply its enrolment deferral policy in a way that would conflict with its duty to accommodate students with disabilities. Trebas is to make all inquiries necessary to ensure that written materials for courses offered by the Institute can be made readily available in formats accessible to persons with visual disabilities. The college was also ordered to designate a position in its administrative structure with primary responsibilities for meeting the accommodation needs of students with disabilities, and to ensure the training of that person in the principles of accommodating students with disabilities receiving educational services.
In February 2003, Peel Police were contacted to investigate a possible shoplifting allegation at a large department store in Mississauga. The Tribunal found that Ms. Nassiah, a Black woman, was subjected to a more intensive, suspicious and prolonged investigation because of her race.
The Tribunal found that Ms. Nassiah had been subjected to racial profiling. She had been wrongly apprehended by store security on suspicion of stealing a low-priced item despite her repeated and impassioned denials, and a Peel police officer conducted a discriminatory investigation that included:
The Tribunal also found that the police officer subjected Ms. Nassiah to verbal abuse during the investigation, and threatened to take her to jail if she didn’t produce the missing item. The police and store security ultimately released Ms. Nassiah after they concluded that they had made an error.
The Tribunal found that racial profiling is a form of racial discrimination, and that it is contrary to the Human Rights Code for police to treat persons differently in any aspect of the police process because of their race, even if race is only one factor in the differential treatment. The Tribunal noted the mounting evidence that this form of racial discrimination is not the result of isolated acts of individual “bad apples” but part of a systemic bias in many police forces.
In addition to awarding Ms. Nassiah $20,000.00 in damages, the Tribunal’s decision requires Peel Regional Police Service to take the following systemic steps to address racial profiling and to prevent future discriminatory practices of a similar nature:
In July 2007, the Tribunal found that the TTC’s failure to ensure announcements of all stops on buses and streetcars violated the human rights of persons with disabilities, particularly riders with visual impairments. It ordered the TTC to begin announcing bus route stops within 30 days. This follows a similar ruling by the Tribunal in July 2005 involving a complaint about the lack of stop announcements in Toronto’s subway system.
The Tribunal ordered the TTC to take the following steps:
Mr. Lane was hired as a quality assurance analyst by ADGA Group Consultants Inc., an Ottawa-based company involved in contract government information technology services. A few days after he started his job, Mr. Lane advised his supervisor that he had bipolar disorder and required accommodation. The accommodation included monitoring for indicators that he might be moving towards a manic episode; contacting his wife and/or doctor; and occasionally allowing him to take time off work to avert a shift from pre-manic stage to a full-blown episode. His supervisor gave no assurances, but undertook to get back to him.
As Lane became more anxious about management's response to his accommodation request, he began to exhibit pre-manic symptoms. Although Mr. Lane's supervisor and manager were aware of this when they met with him a few days later, they did not address any of his needs, they did not consider putting the meeting off to get more information, and they did not obtain legal advice. Instead, they immediately terminated his employment, which triggered a severe reaction that led to full-blown mania. Mr. Lane was hospitalized for 12 days, after which he experienced severe depression due to his inability to obtain other work. His financial position deteriorated, he had to sell his house, and his marriage ended.
The Tribunal held that management terminated Mr. Lane because of his disability and perceptions related to his disability, with virtually “no investigation as to the nature of his condition or possible accommodations within the workplace.” The Tribunal also found that ADGA had breached the procedural duty to accommodate, and this itself constituted a form of discrimination. The Tribunal also rejected ADGA's argument that Mr. Lane had an obligation to disclose his disability during the hiring process.
The Tribunal awarded Mr. Lane $35,000 as general damages; $10,000 for mental anguish; a further $34,278.75 in special damages, as well as pre- and post-judgement interest. The Tribunal ordered ADGA to establish a written anti-discrimination policy and retain a consultant to provide training to all employees, supervisors, and managers on the obligation of employers under the Code, with a focus on the accommodating persons with mental health issues.
ADGA is appealing the decision to Divisional Court.
Mr. Bekele, who identifies as Black, wished to purchase a unit in a co-operative apartment building. The building’s bylaws require that prospective purchasers be approaved by a majority of the Board of Directors. Ms. Cierpich was President of the Board at that time.
While it usually takes one meeting and at most seven business days for the Board to reach a decision, Mr. Bekele or his representative had to attend three different meetings. Approval was only granted after he threatened legal action, and the approval time was four times longer than the usual maximum.
The Tribunal found that race and colour were factors in this differential treatment. Incidents included the President demanding to see bank statements, based on the belief that Mr. Bekele was using drug money to pay for the unit, other Board members worrying that he was a member of Al-Qaeda, and the property manager fearing that he would bring cockroaches into the building.
During and after Mr. Bekele’s attempts to get approval, various residents within the building wrote letters to the Board raising concerns about racism within the Board and the building. These allegations were never substantively responded to.
Mr. Bekele originally filed a complaint against Ms. Cierpich, another Board member, the property manager and the building corporation itself, all but Ms. Cierpich settled during the Commission’s investigation, and the Tribunal hearing proceeded against Ms. Cierpich only.
The Tribunal found that she had violated Mr. Bekele’s rights to be free from discrimination with respect to the occupancy of accommodation. The Tribunal also found that as President of the Board, Ms. Cierpich violated the Code by failing to investigate or take action on allegations of racist comments being made in the building.
The Tribunal ordered Ms. Cierpich to pay Mr. Bekele $8,000 in general damages and $2,000 in damages for mental anguish, with prejudgement interest on these amounts. It also ordered that if Ms. Cierpich ever decides to run again for election to the Board, she must attend a human rights training session, at her own expense, and must send a letter to the Commission notifying it of her intention to re-join the Board, and confirming she has attended the training.
Ms. Giguere was in a common-law relationship with a man who was HIV-positive and also had Hepatitis C, when she began working at Popeye Restaurant in a town in northern Ontario. When she applied for the job, she was open about her partner’s medical situation, and Ms. Landry, the restaurant owner, did not see this as a concern.
Two weeks later, Ms. Giguere was terminated because of customer complaints related to her common-law spouse, and the concern of customers that Ms. Giguere had or might contract the AIDS virus.
The Tribunal found that Ms. Giguere was fired because of her association with a person with a disability, and that a business owner is not entitled to terminate an employee because they feel their business will suffer because of the views of customers, where those views are related to proscribed grounds of discrimination.
During the Tribunal process, allegations arose that Ms. Giguere offered money to another person to provide certain testimony before the Tribunal. The Tribunal found that the complainant engaged in abuse of the Tribunal’s process. Even though she had been discriminated against, the Tribunal refused to award Ms. Giguere damages because of these circumstances. Instead, it ordered the respondents to make a charitable donation of $2,500 to an organization that provides services to people living with HIV/AIDS in the town, or that provides public education or outreach on HIV/AIDS issues. It also ordered the respondent to post Human Rights Code cards at the restaurant.
Because the Commission has carriage of the complaint at the Tribunal, settlements almost always involve the inclusion of strong public interest remedies. Since the Commission must sign Minutes of Settlement, it can negotiate for these remedies, particularly in cases that may initially appear to affect only the individual, but which in fact have a broader public interest component. Under the terms of each of these settlements, there was no admission of liability, nor was there a withdrawal of the allegations.
Days Hotel and Conference Centre, Toronto Airport East and hotel guest Barbara Dodd reached a settlement that will see the establishment of new fire safety practices for the hotel, and sets a positive example for using visual strobe light fire alarms for deaf, deafened and hard of hearing individuals in Ontario hotel accommodations.
Ms. Dodd, who is deaf, stayed at the Days Hotel for a special event. In the early morning, the fire alarm went off, unbeknownst to her and other deaf guests. Although it was a false alarm, the hotel did not have a visual fire alarm system in place to warn deaf patrons of a fire.
Days Inn agreed to install a strobe light fire alarm system in select locations of the hotel, including the lobby, restaurant, swimming pool area, ballroom, public washrooms and four selected guest rooms. Rooms equipped with visual fire warning devices will be reserved for people identifying themselves as deaf or hard of hearing until all others rooms are occupied. The hotel will also develop and implement policies and procedures for safely accommodating visitors with hearing disabilities, in consultation with the Commission, Ms. Dodd and expert advisors.
Industry associations applaud the settlement, which will support their efforts to provide leadership and resources to their members to meet accessibility requirements.
This settlement will increase the number of theatres with closed captioning systems so more people who are deaf, deafened and hard of hearing can fully enjoy theatre-going experiences in the same way as everyone else.
The settlement includes the installation of new closed captioning systems in multiple Ontario theatres. These installations will occur on a phased-in basis following a comprehensive selection and testing period of new commercially available closed captioning systems by the exhibitors. Most of the exhibitors have also agreed to add a closed captioning system to all new theatres opened in the province of Ontario. The agreement also includes the appointment of a monitor to oversee settlement obligations. The Commission is still attempting to negotiate a settlement with Paramount Canada.
The complainant was a high school student who was diagnosed with behavioural disorders. The student alleged inadequate accommodation and unfair and harsh discipline by the School Board.
Despite being aware of the disability, the School Board suspended the complainant 13 times in 18 months. The majority of these suspensions were for “defiant,” “oppositional” or “confrontational” behaviour that was related to the complainant’s disability.
As a result of these suspensions, the student was transferred to a different school and required to sign a behaviour contract. The student was then expelled for an altercation. After attending an alternative program, the complainant returned to school in September 2004 for a short period of time and then dropped out of the school system.
The parties engaged in a lengthy mediation process that took more than 18 months, and involved seven mediation meetings, two mediators, a special education expert, an education coordinator and an independent psychiatrist. During this process, the parties obtained an independent assessment of the complainant to determine accommodation needs, and ensured that the complainant was given access to interim educational opportunities.
As part of the settlement, the School Board agreed to pay for the services of an education assistant to provide a liaison between the complainant and education service providers including the TDSB; provide a computer to the complainant; and reimburse the complainant for Internet access for two years. It also agreed to update their training in accordance with Bill 212 and its regulations, which require Boards to consider mitigating factors before deciding to suspend or expel. Finally, it agreed to meet with Commission staff with respect to an earlier settlement.
The Commission appeared as an intervener at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton. Mr. Badesha, a devout Sikh who, in observance of his faith, wears a turban, was charged with operating a motorcycle on a highway without wearing a helmet contrary to the Highway Traffic Act. Mr. Badesha was seeking to be excused from this requirement for religious reasons.
The Commission intervened as the case involved the interpretation and application of Ontario’s Human Rights Code, and took a position in support of Mr. Badesha’s request for religious accommodation. The court found that the health and safety requirement of wearing a helmet outweighed Mr. Badesha’s religious rights in this case. Mr. Badesha has appealed the decision.
The Ottawa Chinese Senior Association (OCSA) appealed the Human Rights Tribunal's decision which found that Falun Gong constituted a creed within the meaning of the Human Rights Code, and that the Ottawa Chinese Senior Association had discriminated against Ms. Huang for refusing her membership based on her creed.
The Divisional Court allowed the appeal on the basis that the OCSA did not have adequate notice of the proceedings, and sent the matter back to the Tribunal for a new hearing. The Court did not comment on the merits of the appeal.
This was an appeal from the decision of the Honourable Peter Cory, sitting as a Human Rights Tribunal, in which he had found that Ontario's Coroners Act was contrary to the Human Rights Code, because it gave prisoners in jail an automatic inquest when they died behind bars, but denied an automatic inquest to involuntarily committed psychiatric patients who are confined to psychiatric hospitals.
The Court held that a reasonable person aware of the different purposes for which psychiatric patients are held in custody would not feel that their inherent human dignity has been impaired, and that the coroner conducts an individualized assessment in deciding whether or not to conduct an inquest.
Commission counsel and counsel for Braithwaite have filed a Notice of Motion seeking leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal.
This was an application to judicially review a decision of the Commission. The Commission had decided that Mr. Zubovits’ complaint could more appropriately be dealt with under the Crown Employees Collective Bargaining Act, and the Labour Relations Act.
Mr. Zubovits had entered into a settlement at the Greivance Settlement Board. However, he later sought to retract his consent to the settlement. The Commission in its decision noted that the applicant was a member of a union and through the two acts, he had access to a grievance procedure in which human rights violations could be fully arbitrated. The Commission noted that he had filed grievances concerning the same situation as referenced in his complaint, including harassment and dismissal from employment, and that a mediated settlement had been reached.
The Divisional Court upheld the Commission's decision. It held that the human rights issues raised in the complaint overlapped with his grievances and were addressed by the settlement. Significantly, the Court held that there does not have to be an arbitration under another statute before the Commission concludes that the other statute is the more appropriate route for dealing with the complaint. The Court also acknowledged that Mr. Zubovits understood that the settlement included compensation for the human rights component of his complaint.
Mr. Zubovits has filed an application for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal.
The Commission's appeal from the Tribunal decision in this case was dismissed.
The complainant had worked as a crane operator at Dofasco, but went off work with an injury. After approximately four years off the job, Dofasco offered her a switchboard operator's position and gave her a limited time to take the position. She did not take the job within the time provided, indicating that she wished to speak with her doctor first. The Tribunal made central findings of fact including that the complainant did not genuinely want to return to work at Dofasco. Rather, she wanted the Worker’s Compensation Board to provide her with retraining to become an accountant, and the Tribunal found her refusal to take the switchboard job when offered was unreasonable. The Divisional Court upheld the Tribunal's decision.
In addition, the Tribunal had found that the complainant's human rights complaint was filed for an improper purpose. On this basis, the Tribunal also ordered the Commission to pay substantial costs to Dofasco. The Commission argued that for it to be required to pay costs, there must also be Commission misconduct. The Court agreed with the Tribunal that Commission misconduct was not a pre-condition for an award of costs.
The Tribunal also dismissed one part of the complaint as an abuse of process for the Commission's delay in adding it as a ground to the complaint. The Commission was not successful in having this finding overturned on appeal.
HRTO FINAL DECISIONS |
GROUNDS |
Bekele v. Cierpich |
race, colour, ethnic origin |
Benedetto v. Inco Limited, Garber, Callaghan |
disability |
Brown v. Trebas Institute Ontario Inc., Hood, |
Disability |
Chard v. Newton |
sex, sexual harassment |
Dodds v. 2008573 Ontario Inc. o/a Sharks Sports Pub, Accardo and Accardo |
sex |
Dominques v. Fortino, Varbara |
sex, sexual harrassment |
Earhart v. Nutritional Management Services Limited, |
sex, sexual harrassment, reprisal |
Giguere v. Popeye Restaurant, Landry |
association |
Hassan v. Rizzuto Bros. Ltd., operating as Blue Line Transportation Ltd., Rizzuto |
colour, race, harassment |
Kertesz v. Bellair Property Management, Campagna |
sex, harassment, reprisal |
Lane v. ADGA Group Consultants Inc. |
disability |
Lepofsky v. Toronto Transit Commission |
disability |
Nassiah v. Peel Regional Police Services, Elkington |
race |
Pchelkina v. RE/MAX Crossroads Realty Inc., Tomsons |
sex, sexual harassment |
Romano v. 1577118 Ontario Inc. o/a La Luna by the Lake Restaurant, Piemontese |
sex, sexual solicitation |
Seguin v. Great Blue Heron Charity Casino |
sex |
Szabo v. Casa Industries, Poley, Allison |
disability |
Wedley v. Northview Meadow Co-operative Homes Inc., Harvey |
sex |
HRTO FURTHER DECISIONS |
GROUNDS |
Glover v. 571566 Ontario Inc. o/a Cadillac Tavern, 1528433 Ontario Ltd. |
sex, sexual solicitation, reprisal |
McKinnon v. Her Majesty the Queen in Rights of Ontario (Ministry of |
race, ancestry, ethnic origin, harassment |
Modi v. Paradise Find Foods Ltd., Aycha, Omarbach (2 further decisions) |
creed, ethnic origin, place of origin |
Quereshi v. The Board of Education for the City of Toronto and Central High School of Commerce |
age, creed, sex, race |
HRTO INTERIM DECISIONS |
GROUNDS |
Aubertin v. Armand H. Couture Ltd., Couture |
disability |
Ball et al. v. Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Ontario as |
disability |
Boldt-MacPherson v. The Hoita Kokoro Centre, Hoita |
sex, sexual solicitation, reprisal |
Campe v. Borland Canada Inc., Borland Solfware Corp. |
sex, reprisal |
Davis v. City of Toronto |
disability |
Demelo v. Prog-Die Tool & Stamping Ltd., Almiron |
sex, harassment |
Dunham v. Calstone Inc., Schulz |
disability |
K.F. by his litigation guardian F.W.F. v. Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, Viloria, Lezon, and Peel Regional Police Services Board, Duffield |
race, colour, age, reprisal |
Giguere v. Popeye Restaurant, Landry |
association |
Grosberg v. 2024757 Ontario Inc. o/a St. Louis Bar & Grill, Kassim |
creed, ethnic origin, sex, reprisal |
Hancock v. McKesson Canada Corp., Sedore, Kalchman, Varkul, Da Silva |
sex |
Haynes v. Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, White, Murphy, Wilson |
colour, disability, race |
Heintz v. Christian Horizons, Girling |
|
Hope v. Maplewood Painting, Wilson, Ferguson |
sex, harassment, solicitation |
King v. Toronto Police Services Board |
sexual orientation |
Lampi v. Princess House Products Canada Inc. |
sex, sexual |
Lepofsky v. Toronto Transit Commission |
disability |
Lundy v. Kaparel Corporation, Schmid, Kuhlmann |
age |
Marakkaparambil v. Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Ontario as represented by The Minister of Health and Long-Term Care |
place of origin |
McHugh v. Casino Rama Services Inc., Hawkins, Calvert, Johnston, Spurgeon, Pratt, Emms, Munson, Beaver, Chase |
age, family status, sex, sexual orientation |
Pchelkina v. Tomsons |
sex, harassment |
Persaud v. Toronto District School Board, Masciello, Rosen, Corner, Evely, Greenaway (2 interim decisions) |
colour, race |
Pieters v. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Store 568 |
race, colour, ethnic origin |
Plummer v. Turtle Island Recycling Corporation, Anagnostakos, Waltonk, Reddy |
disability, harassment |
Savoy v. Aya Kitchens & Baths Ltd., Hoang, Wahab |
disability, sex |
Sigrist and Carson v. London District Catholic School Board, Clarke, Gillies, Rapai, Grand, Kavelaars, Paparella, Nugent, Desalaiz |
disability |
Sinclair v. Corporation of the City of London |
citizenship, place of origin |
Snow v. Honda of Canada Manufacturing, Matheson Korin, McCutcheon |
disability, reprisal |
Szabo v. Casa Industries, Poley, Allison |
disability |
Thomason v. Durham District School Board |
disability |
HRTO SETTLEMENTS |
GROUNDS |
Al-Omairy v. The Kitchen Table Inc, Powel, Rumig |
creed, ethnic origin, place of origin |
Andrews v. Ritz Plastics Ltd., Wright, Gaffney |
disability |
Antwi v. Vocational Pathways Inc., Aldrich, Orsi, Brown |
disability |
Assefa v. 753901 Bristish Columbia Ltd. o/a The Westin Harbour Castle |
family status, reprisal |
Barker, Malkowski, Simser v. Cineplex Entertainment Limited Partnership, Alliance Atlantis Cinemas Partnerships, AMC Entertainment International Inc., Rainbow Centre Cinemas Inc., Universal Studios Canada Inc. |
disability |
Barrett v. Craiglee Nursing Home Ltd., McDougall, McDougall-Burrell |
disability |
Berard v. The Corporation of the Township of Horton, McLaren |
disability |
Bidwell v. Irving Tissue Corporation |
disability |
Blevis v. Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, McCoy, Beer, Viney |
marital status |
Bourdeau v. Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Ontario as Represented by the Minister of Community Family and Children's Services |
disability |
Bovingdon v. 2013134 Ontario Limited o/a Quizno's Subs, Hunt |
disability |
Buder v. Dynatec Corporation, Simms, Patry |
disability |
Busch by his next friend Holtz-Busch v. Sudbury Catholic School Board, Zaher, Csinos, MacDonald, Stewart |
disability |
Clements v. Grainharvest Breadhouse Inc., Wurm |
marital status, association |
Collet v. Atlantis Realty Services Inc., Hovey |
age |
Costie v. Nuttal Pharmacy Services Ltd. o/a Shoppers Drug Mart, Nuttal |
disability |
Countryman v. Manpower Services Canada Ltd aka as Manpower Inc., Russell, Temmenbaum |
age |
Crombie v. Rip's Sleepy Hollow Ltd., Hodgson, Hodgson |
association, disability |
Dalle Sasse v. A Touch of Health, Berard |
sex |
Dalli v. Braithwaite |
disability |
Demelo v. Prog-Die Tool & Stamping Ltd., Almiron |
sex, sexual solicitation |
Dodd v.1301429 Ontario Inc. o/a Days Hotel & Conference Centre – Toronto Airport East |
disability |
Downer v. Carma Industries Inc., Williams, Williams |
disability, reprisal, sex |
Dublin v. Montessori Jewish Day School of Toronto, Nashman |
disability |
Dunham v. Calstone Inc., Schulz |
disability |
Dynes v. Bereskin & Parr, Langton, Sarginson, McGiffin |
disability |
Eisenhut v. Tropictana, McAllister |
association, race, reprisal |
Ellis v. T.E. Smith Transport and Logistics Ltd. o/a Northview Bar & Grill, Smith |
sexual orientation |
Gardezi v. Loyalist College, Hime, Callahan, Washburn, Whalen, Cudmore |
ethnic origin, race |
Garrelhas v. ICE Consultants Inc., Bain, Wright |
disability |
Gonsalves v. Sun Pac Food Ltd., Kuhner |
reprisal |
Goodman v. Bulk Systems (Ontario) Ltd., Salminen, Pawluk, Dalton |
disability |
Goray v. Trapper's Restaurant Inc. |
disability |
Gorski-Maker v. St. Paul University Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian Studies, Lalonde, Onuferko, Nowakowski |
sex |
Greenhorn v. 621509 Ontario Inc. o/a Belleville Dodge Chrysler Jeep, Belch |
sex |
Guerard v. Services de Sante Chapleau Health Services, Gumbel |
ancestry, ethnic origin, race |
Gurzinski v. SKD Company |
Age, disability |
Habibi, Ghaforian v. RCM Technologies Canada Corp. |
ethnic origin, place of origin, race |
Haddow v. Kruse Lawson & Haller, Haller |
disability |
Hancock v. Distributel Communications Ltd., Youden, Walsh |
sex |
Hayward v. Kitching |
race, colour |
Henderson v. Toronto Police Services Board |
sex |
Hoffman v. Chen |
family status |
Hou v. Estonian House, Isberg, Remmel |
ethnic origin, race |
Huchla v. Meditech International Inc., Khan |
sex, reprisal |
Hussain v. Global Electronics Supplies Inc., Otterbein |
disability |
Hutchingame v. Ontario Provincial Police, Smith |
association, family status |
Jackson v. Collins & Aikman Plastics Ltd., Baldassara, Sinfield, Heinrick, MacDonald |
race, colour, place of origin, reprisal |
Jaeger v. William Lyon MacKenzie Housing Co-Operative Inc. |
disability, receipt of public assistance |
Johann v. Resort Holiday Group of Companies Ltd. |
disability |
Johnson v. Ultraframe North America Limited, Caswell, Ireland, Butler |
colour, disability, race, reprisal |
Lam v. Toronto Police Services Board, Alexander |
disability, race |
Laureano v. The Fairmont Royal York Hotel |
disability |
Lip v. Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc., Carol |
disability |
Lissitsyn v. Idea Technology Inc., Tran |
age |
Livingston v. Sun Pac Foods |
disability |
London v. Stansford, Phillips |
disability, sex |
Lugue v. IBM Canada Ltd. |
disability |
Lugue v. IBM Canada Ltd. |
age |
MacPhail v. Flowserve Canada Corp. |
disability |
Mahamoud v. Italian Home Bakery Ltd., Rosetti, Malev, Rosetti |
colour, creed, ethnic origin, place of origin, race, reprisal |
Malone v. Faurecia Automotive Seating Canada Ltd. |
disability |
Martin v. Canadian Mental Health Association – Ontario Division, Everett, Bregman, Marmen |
disability |
Masters v. Sharp Business Forms Inc., Sandhu |
disability |
Matwijszyn v. Quest Steel Inc., Visentin |
disability |
Mcgregor v. Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Ontario as represented by the Minister of Public Safety and Security, Young |
association, family status |
McKenzie v. Parkview Lanes Windsor Ltd., Prentice, Prentice |
disability |
Migwans v. Indian Friendship Centre of Sault Ste Marie |
disability |
Mihaljevic v. United Croats of Canada Branch Dr. A. Pavelic, Saric, Jurcic |
ancestry, association, ethnic origin, place of origin |
Miranda v. Artistic Innovations Inc. |
disability |
Mitrovic v. 1294127 Ontario Ltd. o/a Thru-Way Trailer Centre Limited, Mawji |
sex |
Moazen v. Michael Annis o/a Pur Spa & Glo Tan, Annis, Warda |
sex |
Nangia v. Future Shop, Division of Best Buy Canada Ltd., Rosenfeld |
sexual orientation |
Nassar v. Toronto Dominion Meloche Monnex Inc., Alvisi |
disability |
Nixon v. Keg Restaurants Ltd., Vachon, Fried, Sockett |
Colour, place of origin, race |
O'Neil v. Kavco Sales Limited o/a Canadian Tire Store #135, Kavanaugh, Lalibertie |
disability |
O'Reilly v. Burnett |
age, disability, family status, marital status, receipt of public assistance |
Paladino v. Armata Jr. |
ancestry, race, reprisal |
Parris v. Toronto Transit Commission, Crawford |
colour, race |
Patel v. Workplace Safety and Insurance Board |
creed, disability |
Patrick v. Irving Tissue Corporation |
disability, family status |
Pieters v. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario Store 568, ASP Inc. |
colour, ethnic origin, race |
Plummer v. Turtle Island Recycling Corporation, Anagnostastako, Walton, Reddy |
disability |
Portelli v. Atlas Hydraulics Inc., Law |
sex, harrassment, reprisal |
Porter v. Glentel Inc. |
sex, sexual solicitation, harassment |
Powell v. Corporation of Haldimand County – Grandview Lodge |
disability |
Rasaratnam v. Sault College of Applied Arts and Technology |
disability |
Reynolds v. North American Marketing Enterprises Inc., o/a Consumer's Choice Home Improvements |
disability |
Riberio v. Global Precast Inc. |
disability |
Richard v. Toronto Catholic District School Board, Donovan, Jones |
colour, race |
Roberts v. Beatrice House, Chaisson |
sex, sexual orientation |
Roberts v. Toronto District School Board, Paterson |
disability |
Robinson v. CHEP Canada Inc., Paterson, Adlam |
colour, ethnic origin, place of origin, race; reprisal |
Ross v. Tobias House Attendant Care Inc, Jarosz, Potts, Duncan |
disability, sex |
Roxanne v. Faloon |
disability |
Savoy v. Aya Kitchens & Baths Ltd., Hoang, Wahab |
disability, sex |
Scott v. Barrie Fine Cars & Service Ltd., Angelucci |
disability |
Sidock v. Haley Industries Ltd. |
disability |
Sinclair, Craig, Fawcett, Coubrough, Gordon, Faysal v. General Motors Defense, a division of General Motors of Canada Ltd. |
citizenship, place of origin |
Sinclair-Day v. 9448685 Ontario Ltd. o/a Norval Meats, Amendola, Vincenzo |
sex |
Solomon v. Keg Restaurants Ltd., Vachon, Ibbitson. Sockett |
colour, place of origin; race |
Stark v. College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario |
disability |
Stewart v. Ontario Provincial Police Service, Bateman |
sex |
Sutter v. CIT Financial Services Ltd., Marandola |
reprisal, sex, sexual solicitation |
Swanson v. Centre for Technology Studies Canadian Career College Inc., Carvalho |
sexc sexual solicitation |
Tabobandung v. The Cadillac Fairview Corporation Limited/La Corporation Cadillac Fairview Limitee, Sharp, Kareem, Fry |
Ancestry, ethnic origin, race |
Tadres v. Cameron J. and D. Beach Sales Ltd. o/a/ - Canadian Tire Associates Store 399, Kurtz |
disability |
Thomason by his next friend Thomason v. Durham District School Board |
disability |
Vassell v. City of Toronto, O'Neill, Mlakar |
colour, disability, race, reprisal |
Vynogradova v. Caprani & Associates, Caprani |
sex |
Watson v. Ontario Racing Commission, Fines, Hicks, Stone |
sex |
Willis v. Labourers' International Union of North America, Dixon |
colour, place of origin, race |
Wilson v. 1343214 Ontario Inc. o/a Tucson's, Bourgeois, Ross |
reprisal, sex, sexual solicitation |
Woll-Morison v. Abuse Program of York Region, Huizer |
disability, sex |
Young v. USWA Local 7135, Pedron, Vassalli, Rozon |
sex |
ONTARIO COURT OF JUSTICE
R. v. Badesha (Commission intervention granted, Challenge to Highway Traffic Act mandatory helmet requirement dismissed)
JUDICIAL REVIEWS IN DIVISIONAL COURT
Jazairi v. Ontario Human Rights Commission (motion to limit the involvement of the OHRC dismissed)
Jazairi v. Ontario Human Rights Commission (motion to remove Commission counsel from proceedings, dismissed)
Jazairi v. Ontario Human Rights Commission (motion to require production of Commission factum granted in accordance with counsel's undertaking)
Jazairi v. Ontario Human Rights Commission (two applications for judicial review dismissed)
Zubovits v. Ontario Human Rights Commission and Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Ontario as represented by the Minister of Environment and Energy (application dismissed, Zubovitz has brought a motion for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal)
Weyerhaeuser Company Limited v. Ontario (Human Rights Commission) (costs award granted to Weyerhaeuser)
Razack v. Ontario Human Rights Commission (application dismissed)
Maduro v. Ontario Human Rights Commission and Neff Kitchens Manufacturers Ltd., Neff and Lam (application dismissed)
Batson v. Ontario Human Rights Commission and Zhao (application dismissed)
Coote v. Zellers et al. (Commission's motion to strike numerous respondents granted)
Coote v. Zellers Inc. (Applicant's motion to set aside decision striking out numerous respondents, dismissed)
Coote v. Assante Corporation (Commission's motion to strike numerous respondents and on procedural matters, granted)
Coote v. Assante Corporation (Applicant's motion to set aside decision striking out numerous respondents, dismissed)
APPEALS IN DIVISIONAL COURT
Ontario (Attorney General) and Chief Coroner v. Ontario Human Rights Commission and Mental Health Legal Committee, Empowerment Council and Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office (Attorney General and Chief Coroner's appeal granted)
Ontario Human Rights Commission and Jeffrey v. Dofasco Inc. (Commission's appeal dismissed)
Papa Joe's Pizza and Toufighjou v. Ontario Human Rights Commission, Metcalfe and Hoogerdijk (Papa Joe's appeal dismissed)
1233065 Ontario Inc. (Ottawa Senior Chinese Cultural Association) and Guo v. Ontario Human Rights Commission and Huang (Appeal granted, new hearing before Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario ordered)
COURT OF APPEAL
Weyerhaeuser Company Limited v. Ontario (Human Rights Commission) (Commission's application for leave to appeal dismissed)
Zubovits v. Ontario Human Rights Commission and Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Ontario as represented by the Minister of Environment and Energy (Zubovits' application for leave to appeal dismissed)
1233065 Ontario Inc. (Ottawa Senior Chinese Cultural Association) and Guo v. Ontario Human Rights Commission and Huang (Huang's application for leave to appeal dismissed)
Jazairi v. Ontario Human Rights Commission (motion for leave to appeal from an interim decision of Divisional Court dismissed)
SUPREME COURT OF CANADA
Keays v. Honda Canada Inc. (Commission's application for leave to intervene in appeal, granted)
(Total = 3,492)
Accommodation |
24 |
10 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
10 |
71 |
23 |
39 |
13 |
22 |
19 |
76 |
0 |
16 |
23 |
11 |
376 |
159 |
4.6% |
Contracts |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
41 |
20 |
0.6% |
Employment |
246 |
150 |
23 |
25 |
24 |
126 |
1,404 |
351 |
174 |
87 |
261 |
5 |
761 |
11 |
378 |
758 |
80 |
4,864 |
2,473 |
70.8% |
Services |
53 |
78 |
18 |
4 |
8 |
121 |
381 |
149 |
38 |
14 |
79 |
8 |
379 |
4 |
53 |
85 |
21 |
1,493 |
752 |
21.5% |
Vocational Associations |
3 |
9 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
54 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
37 |
0 |
17 |
23 |
2 |
168 |
88 |
2.5% |
Total Grounds[1] |
328 |
249 |
49 |
35 |
39 |
266 |
1,915 |
539 |
254 |
115 |
373 |
32 |
1,261 |
15 |
464 |
894 |
114 |
6,942 |
3,492 |
100% |
Percent (%) of |
4.7% |
3.6% |
0.7% |
0.5% |
0.6% |
3.8% |
27.6% |
7.8% |
3.7% |
1.7% |
5.4% |
0.5% |
18.2% |
0.2% |
6.7% |
12.9% |
1.6% |
100% |
||
Percent (%) of |
9.4% |
7.1% |
1.4% |
1.0% |
1.1% |
7.6% |
54.8% |
15.4% |
7.3% |
3.3% |
10.7% |
0.9% |
36.1% |
0.4% |
13.3% |
25.6% |
3.3% |
|||
Age |
Ancestry |
Association |
Breach of Settlement |
Citizenship |
Creed |
Disability |
Ethnic Origin |
Family Status |
Marital Status |
Place of Origin |
Public Assistance |
Race & Colour |
Record of Offences |
Reprisal |
Sex[2] |
Sexual Orientation |
Sum of grounds |
Total Complaints |
Percent (%) of all Complaints Filed |
|
Mediated |
Conciliation |
Total Cases Settled |
||||||
Ground |
Cases |
Monetary Damages |
Average |
Cases |
Monetary Damages |
Average |
Cases |
Monetary Damages |
Average |
Age |
48 |
$424,844.00 |
$8,850.92 |
29 |
$248,268.93 |
$8,561.00 |
77 |
$673,112.93 |
$8,741.73 |
Ancestry |
26 |
$216,877.00 |
$8,341.42 |
20 |
$205,592.55 |
$10,279.63 |
46 |
$422,469.55 |
$9,184.12 |
Association |
4 |
$28,600.00 |
$7,150.00 |
3 |
$31,916.39 |
$10,638.80 |
7 |
$60,516.39 |
$8,645.20 |
Breach of Settlement |
3 |
$52,061.85 |
$17,353.95 |
0 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
3 |
$52,061.85 |
$17,353.95 |
Citizenship |
5 |
$7,139.00 |
$1,427.80 |
4 |
$27,142.55 |
$6,785.64 |
9 |
$34,281.55 |
$3,809.06 |
Creed |
29 |
$174,462.00 |
$6,015.93 |
20 |
$119,537.55 |
$5,976.88 |
49 |
$293,999.55 |
$5,999.99 |
Disability |
313 |
$2,980,889.40 |
$9,523.61 |
147 |
$1,625,266.67 |
$11,056.24 |
460 |
$4,606,156.07 |
$10,013.38 |
Ethnic Origin |
65 |
$454,429.00 |
$6,991.22 |
54 |
$447,410.54 |
$8,285.38 |
119 |
$901,839.54 |
$7,578.48 |
Family Status |
31 |
$179,217.75 |
$5,781.22 |
19 |
$187,016.39 |
$9,842.97 |
50 |
$366,234.14 |
$7,324.68 |
Marital Status |
17 |
$111,720.00 |
$6,571.77 |
9 |
$139,916.39 |
$15,546.27 |
26 |
$251,636.39 |
$9,678.32 |
Place of Origin |
48 |
$258,257.00 |
$5,380.35 |
23 |
$189,110.55 |
$8,222.20 |
71 |
$447,367.55 |
$6,300.95 |
Public Assistance |
6 |
$30,350.00 |
$5,058.33 |
1 |
$2,500.00 |
$2,500.00 |
7 |
$32,850.00 |
$4,692.86 |
Race & Colour |
217 |
$1,580,756.72 |
$7,284.59 |
126 |
$1,391,097.48 |
$11,040.46 |
343 |
$2,971,854.20 |
$8,664.30 |
Record of Offences |
3 |
$133,000.00 |
$44,333.33 |
1 |
$500.00 |
$500.00 |
4 |
$133,500.00 |
$33,375.00 |
Reprisal |
76 |
$794,727.14 |
$10,456.94 |
48 |
$409,301.39 |
$8,527.11 |
124 |
$1,204,028.53 |
$9,709.91 |
Sex[3] |
191 |
$1,406,170.78 |
$7,362.15 |
95 |
$755,175.00 |
$7,949.21 |
286 |
$2,161,345.78 |
$7,557.15 |
Sexual Harassment |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
18 |
$109,450.00 |
$6,080.56 |
18 |
$109,450.00 |
$6,080.56 |
Orientation sexuel |
22 |
$86,679.00 |
$3,939.96 |
9 |
$68,582.99 |
$7,620.33 |
31 |
$155,261.99 |
$5,008.45 |
Total des dossiers |
1104 |
$8,920,180.64 |
$8,079.87 |
626 |
$5,957,785.37 |
$9,517.23 |
1730 |
$14,877,966.01 |
$8,599.98 |
(Total = 2, 477)
Dismissed on the merits (s. 36)[4] |
16 |
22 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
12 |
98 |
47 |
13 |
5 |
31 |
5 |
109 |
1 |
23 |
51 |
9 |
5 |
453 |
202 |
8.2% |
Dismissed on pre-liminary objections |
14 |
6 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
10 |
63 |
17 |
9 |
4 |
13 |
2 |
42 |
5 |
13 |
20 |
0 |
5 |
229 |
118 |
4.8% |
Referred to Human Rights Tribunal |
20 |
9 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
72 |
167 |
33 |
7 |
8 |
23 |
3 |
76 |
0 |
26 |
47 |
11 |
6 |
517 |
331 |
13.3% |
Resolved |
40 |
18 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
15 |
156 |
41 |
19 |
8 |
30 |
5 |
103 |
0 |
36 |
71 |
6 |
9 |
563 |
288 |
11.6% |
Settled |
93 |
56 |
8 |
4 |
10 |
57 |
548 |
141 |
62 |
33 |
89 |
14 |
390 |
4 |
132 |
318 |
20 |
37 |
2,016 |
1,025 |
41.4% |
Withdrawn |
63 |
21 |
2 |
6 |
5 |
24 |
280 |
66 |
48 |
18 |
38 |
3 |
135 |
4 |
65 |
158 |
3 |
14 |
953 |
513 |
20.7% |
Total[5] |
246 |
132 |
21 |
15 |
27 |
190 |
1,312 |
345 |
158 |
76 |
224 |
32 |
855 |
14 |
295 |
665 |
49 |
76 |
4,732 |
2,477 |
100% |
Percentage (%) |
5.2% |
2.8% |
0.4% |
0.3% |
0.6% |
4.0% |
27.7% |
7.3% |
3.3% |
1.6% |
4.7% |
0.7% |
18.1% |
0.3% |
6.2% |
14.0% |
1.0% |
1.6% |
100% |
||
Age |
Ancestry |
Association |
Breach of Settlement |
Citizenship |
Creed |
Disability |
Ethnic Origin |
Family Status |
Marital Status |
Place of Origin |
Public Assistance |
Race & Colour |
Record of Offences |
Reprisal |
Sex[6] |
Sexual Harassment |
Sexual Orientation |
Sum of grounds |
Total Complaints |
Percentage of all Complaints (%) |
(Total = 2,477)
Withdrawn by the Complainant [7] |
23 |
1 |
408 |
72 |
9 |
513 |
20.7% |
Settled by the Commission |
35 |
2 |
871 |
113 |
4 |
1,025 |
41.4% |
Resolved between Parties |
15 |
1 |
229 |
38 |
5 |
288 |
11.6% |
Dismissed based on Preliminary Objections (s.34)[8] |
3 |
1 |
59 |
50 |
5 |
118 |
4.8% |
Referred to Human Rights Tribunal (s. 36) |
4 |
0 |
126 |
193 |
8 |
331 |
13.4% |
Dismissed on the merits (s. 36)[9] |
16 |
0 |
137 |
43 |
6 |
202 |
8.2% |
Total |
96 |
5 |
1,830 |
509 |
37 |
2,477 |
100.0% |
Percentage (%) |
3.9% |
0.2% |
73.9% |
20.5% |
1.5% |
100% |
|
Accommodation |
Contract |
Employment |
Services |
Vocational Associations |
Total of Complaints |
Percentage of all complaints (%) |
(Total = 2,477)
1 These cases were dismissed after a Commission decision based on written submissions.
2 Complaints dismissed under section 36(2) of the Code include cases where the evidence did not warrant a hearing, or the procedure was not appropriate. Also included was the 22 cases (less than 0.9%) where the complainant did not participate in the Commission's investigation or the Commission's investigation or the Commission was unable to contact the complainant.
3 330 complaints were reffered to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (Tribunal) under section 36(1) or section 33(6) of the Code. One further complaint, which had previously been closed by the Commission, was referred to the Tribunal after reconsideration under section 37 of the Code.
[1] Because complaints can involve multiple grounds, the sum by grounds exceeds the total for all complaints filed, and the corresponding percentages of total complaints exceed 100%.
[2] “Sex” includes sexual harassment, pregnancy, breastfeeding and gender identity.
[3] “Sex” includes pregnancy, sexual harassment, breastfeeding and gender identity.
[4] Complaints dismissed under section 36 of the Code include cases where the evidence did not warrant a hearing, or the procedure was not appropriate. This includes 6 cases (less than 0.5%) that were closed by the Commission that were dismissed because the complainant did not participate in the Commission’s investigation or the Commission was unable to contact the complainant.
[5]Because complaints can involve multiple grounds, the sum by grounds exceeds the total for all complaints filed.
[6] “Sex” includes pregnancy, breastfeeding, and gender identity.
[7] Some as a result of a term of settlement.
[8] These cases were dismissed after a Commission decision based on written submissions.
[9] Includes cases where the evidence did not warrant a hearing, the procedure was not appropriate, or, in 6 cases (less than 0.5%), those where the complainant did not participate in the Commission’s investigation or the Commission was unable to contact the complainant.
Financial Position as at March 31, 2008 ($'000) |
|||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2007-2008 Printed Estimates |
Revised Budget March 31, 2008 |
Actual Expenditures March 31, 2008 |
2007-2008 Year End Variance from Revised Budget |
|
|
|
|
|
$ |
% |
Salaries and Wages |
10,463.4 |
11,247.6 |
10,909.3 |
338.3 |
3.01% |
Benefits |
1,297.5 |
1,347.2 |
1,394.9 |
(47.7) |
-3.54% |
Other Direct Operating Expenses (ODOE) |
2,199.1 |
2,085.6 |
2,245.2 |
(159.6) |
-7.65% |
Total Expenses |
13,960.0 |
14,680.4 |
14,549.4 |
131.0 |
0.89% |
Barbara Hall
Chief Commissioner
Barbara Hall was appointed Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission in November 2005, after 40 years as a community worker, lawyer and municipal politician. She served three terms as a city councillor, and as Toronto’s mayor from 1994 to 1997. From 1998 to 2002 she headed the federal government’s National Strategy on Community Safety and Crime Prevention. Ms. Hall also practised criminal and family law, was a member of the Ontario Health Ministry’s Health Results Team, and lectured nationally and internationally on urban and social issues. She has a strong record of bringing diverse groups together to build healthy communities.
Patrick Case
Patrick Case is the Director of the University of Guelph’s Human Rights and Equity Office. A lawyer by training, his previous roles include Chair of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, and Co-Chair of the Equality Rights Panel of the Court Challenges Program. Mr. Case teaches human rights courses at the University of Guelph and Osgoode Hall Law School. He was appointed to the Commission in November 2006.
Pierre Charron
Pierre Charron is a barrister and solicitor who is senior counsel in his own firm and also president of Charron Human Resources Inc, working in the field of harassment prevention and conflict resolution. Mr. Charron is a member of the Canadian Bar Association, Law Society of Upper Canada, l’Association des juristes d’expression française, Le Club Richelieu de Rockland, the Rockland Optimist Club, the Knights of Columbus, the Chamber of Commerce and the Royal Canadian Legion. He is also a former municipal councillor. Mr. Charron was appointed to the Commission in June 2005.
Ruth Goba
Ruth Goba is Women’s Program coordinator and staff lawyer for the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA). She has taught disability issues at Ryerson University, and she clerked at ARCH: A Legal Resource Centre for Persons with Disabilities. Ms. Goba also worked in India on housing and land rights with both the Habitat International Coalition and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing. She was appointed to the Commission in October 2006.
Kamala-Jean Gopie
Kamala-Jean Gopie has more than 30 years of experience as a teacher, librarian and education officer addressing anti-racism and ethno-cultural equity. She recently served as a member of the federal Immigration and Refugee Board. Her community service includes being President of the Board of the Urban Alliance on Race Relations. Ms. Gopie also sat on the Provincial Task Force on Race Relations and Policing, the City of Toronto Mayor’s Committee on Race and Ethnic Relations, and received the Order of Ontario. She was appointed to the Commission in October 2006.
Alana Klein
Alana Klein is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network. She is a former lecturer and Associate-in-Law at Columbia University. Previously she was Law Clerk to Justice Louise Arbour at the Supreme Court of Canada, and a volunteer at the Chez Doris Day Shelter for Women in Montreal. She was appointed to the Commission in September 2006.
Raja Khouri
Raja G. Khouri is managing consultant at The Knowledge Centre, specializing in organizational effectiveness, community development and human resources. He is former president of the Canadian Arab Federation, where he advocated against discrimination and the erosion of civil liberties. Mr. Khouri directed a study of the Canadian Arab community and authored the book Arabs in Canada: Post 9/11. He has chaired conferences, given lectures and media interviews, and written commentaries in a variety of Canadian dailies and magazines. Mr. Khouri completed an appointment to the Hate Crimes Community Working Group before being appointed to the Commission in September 2006.
Fernand Lalonde
Fernand Lalonde retired from the federal public service in 2001 after serving in many roles including General Secretary of the National Joint Council, Executive Director of Appeals and Investigations for the Public Service Commission of Canada, and Director of Personnel Services, Parks Canada. Mr. Lalonde is a former President of the Canadian Public Personnel Management Association, and is currently a consultant providing services in union-management relations and dispute resolution. He was appointed to the Commission in May 2005.
Christiane Rabier
Christiane Rabier is currently Chair of the Department of Political Science and Vice-Dean of Social Sciences and Humanities at Laurentian University in Sudbury. Ms. Rabier is active within the francophone community in Sudbury, and has worked on a program for francophone women to attend post-secondary studies. She served as a consultant with TV Ontario on Continuing Education, and as a volunteer with Canada’s Special Olympics in 1998 and Operation Red Nose in 1999. Ms. Rabier was appointed to the Commission in April 1999.
Ghulam Abbas Sajan
Ghulam Abbas Sajan served as a senior management auditor with the Management Board Secretariat of Ontario, and was awarded a “Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2005. Previously, he was employed by KPMG in Uganda and the United Kingdom. An active member of the Shi’a Islamic Community, he was president of the Jaffari Islamic Centre and currently, among many other activities, is involved with Mosaic Interfaith Group, Markham Race Relations Committee and Jaffari Islamic Housing Corporation. In 2001, he was honoured with a Government of Canada award for outstanding service and contribution as a volunteer. Mr. Sajan was appointed to the Commission in May 2005.
Bhagat Taggar
Bhagat Taggar is a Chartered (UK) and Professional (Ontario) Engineer with diverse international community experience. He served as a vice chair of race relations, and a city and regional councillor in England, and as an engineer in Zimbabwe. In Canada, he was the chairperson of Panorama India, Lion’s club member, Professor of Engineering at Centennial College and a business owner. Mr. Taggar was appointed by the Governor General of Canada (1996) as chairperson of the Employment Insurance Board for the Ontario regional division (Scarborough). He was awarded the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal for community service 2002. Mr. Taggar was appointed to the Commission in May 2005.
Richard Théberge
Richard Théberge is a lawyer by training, a policy analyst and accessibility consultant. Previously with the federal government, he has analyzed and developed policies in connection with business and corporate law. He has volunteered with youth and disability communities and currently serves as President of the Ottawa Independent Living Resource Centre. Mr. Théberge was recognized as a patron of deaf youth by the Jules Leger Centre in Ottawa, and was awarded for his years of work with the Canadian Council of Independent Laboratories. He was appointed to the Commission in February 2002.
Maggie Wente
Maggie Wente is a lawyer with Olthius Kleer Townshend, representing First Nations and Band Councils. She has also worked with the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres and the University of Toronto Community Legal Clinic. Currently she is a board member of the Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto and formerly Board Co-Chair of the Women’s Counselling, Referral and Education Centre. She is a member of both the Canadian Bar Association and the Indigenous Bar Association. She was appointed to the Commission in October 2006.
Albert Wiggan
Albert Wiggan has been a chef and business owner for over 20 years, and has received several community service awards. He is a frequent speaker to young people at secondary schools on behalf of literacy and people with learning disabilities. He was appointed to the Commission in September 2006.