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Race and related grounds

Under the Code, every person has the right to be free from racial discrimination and harassment in the social areas of employment, services, goods, facilities, housing accommodation, contracts and membership in trade and vocational associations. You should not be treated differently because of your race or other related grounds, such as your ancestry, ethnicity, religion or place of origin. 

Canada, its provinces and territories have strong human rights laws and systems in place to address discrimination. At the same time, we also have a legacy of racism – particularly towards Indigenous persons, but to other groups as well including African, Chinese, Japanese, South Asian, Jewish and Muslim Canadians – a legacy that profoundly permeates our systems and structures to this day, affecting the lives of not only racialized persons, but also all people in Canada.

Relevant policies: 

  1. The Ontario Human Rights Commission’s work with Peel Regional Police and Peel Police Services Board

    The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC), the Peel Regional Police (PRP) and the Peel Police Services Board (PPSB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) committing to develop and implement legally binding remedies to identify and address systemic racism in policing, promote transparency and accountability, and enhance Black, other racialized and Indigenous communities’ trust in policing throughout Peel Region.

  2. Ontario Human Rights Commission comment on Canada’s upcoming 24th and 25th Reports to the UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination

    The OHRC has prepared a submission in response to Canadian Heritage’s request for the views of human rights commissions to inform the Government of Canada as it prepares Canada's combined 24th and 25th periodic report to the United Nations on its implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

  3. Submission of the Ontario Human Rights Commission to the Ministry of the Solicitor General call for submissions on Modernizing the Regulatory Framework for Searches of People in Custody in Ontario’s Adult Correctional Institutions

     

    October 31, 2022

     

    Introduction

    On September 29, 2022, Ontario’s Ministry of the Solicitor General (Ontario) announced its proposal to create an updated regulatory framework under the Ministry of Correctional Services Act for strip searches of people in custody in Ontario’s adult correctional institutions.

    The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) supports Ontario’s decision to take steps to better regulate the use of strip searches in its correctional institutions.

  4. OHRC submission to the Ministry of the Solicitor General on the Equipment and Use of Force Regulation Amendment and implementation of modernized Use of Force Report

    In its submission on proposed government amendments to the Equipment and Use of Force Regulation and implementing a modernized Use of Force Report, the OHRC makes recommendations on reporting requirements; expanding the scope of incidents subject to use of force reporting, the level of force applied in reporting, and including the use of handcuffs; in accordance with leading practices, including additional contextual information; and providing guidance on the analysis required by section 14.7 (4) of the amended regulation. 

  5. A Disparate Impact: Second interim report on the inquiry into racial profiling and racial discrimination of Black persons by the Toronto Police Service

    A Disparate Impact, the second interim report in the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s inquiry into racial profiling and racial discrimination of Black persons by the Toronto Police Service (TPS), confirms that Black people are more likely than others to be arrested, charged, over-charged, struck, shot or killed by Toronto police.

  8. Ontario Human Rights Commission’s (OHRC) submission to the legislated review of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA)

    The OHRC made previous submissions in 2014 , and in 2017  regarding Bill 89 Supporting Children, Youth and Families Act. The OHRC is pleased that many of its recommendations were incorporated into the current legislation.

  9. Anti-Black Racism in Education: Call for Written Submissions

    The OHRC launched its What We Heard Report on anti-Black racism in education. To continue engaging in dialogue with other key partners and stakeholders in education, the OHRC is issuing a call for written submissions on concrete solutions to address anti-Black racism in Ontario’s publicly funded education system. The goal is to gather additional information including recommendations for solutions and action to empower and hold duty-holders accountable.

  10. Anti-Black Racism in Education Engagement Guide

    On June 27, 2023, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) released its Anti-Black Racism in Education Roundtables: What We Heard Report. The roundtables held in April 2023, provided a space for students and duty-holders in the education sector to share solution-focused and action-oriented recommendations.

    For the next action, the OHRC is calling on key partners and stakeholders in education for written submissions on concrete and practical solutions to address anti-Black racism in Ontario’s publicly funded education system. This step is to develop an ongoing dialogue with those key partners and stakeholders, and gather additional information, including actions for implementation, to empower, and to hold duty-holders accountable. 

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