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Commission reports on challenging year

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July 3, 2003

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For immediate publication

Toronto - Chief Commissioner Keith Norton today released the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Year-end Results for the 2002-2003 fiscal period.

Reporting on the Commission’s work, Mr. Norton stated, "In a year which began with the challenge of a civil service strike, I am particularly proud of the work that has been accomplished by the staff of the Commission in advancing the awareness of human rights and responsibilities in this province."

Key initiatives include the launch of a policy on age discrimination against older Ontarians, public consultations on disability and education and a major province-wide public inquiry into the effects of racial profiling. During the same period, the Commission also opened 1,776 cases, closed 1,954 cases and continued to maintain a current caseload (one in which the average age of the caseload is 12 months or less). It also referred 58 complaints to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.

Other highlights include:

  • release of a Consultation Report on human rights and public transit service in Ontario;
  • launch of a public awareness campaign on age discrimination to address the four areas where older persons face the most barriers: employment, transportation, health care and housing;
  • implementation of the third phase of its Aboriginal Human Rights Initiative to increase awareness of human rights and the Commission’s services among Aboriginal communities; and,
  • a survey on accessibility of restaurant chains.

"Certainly, the year-end results demonstrate the contribution that the Commission makes in representing the public interest through promoting and defending human rights in Ontario," added Mr. Norton.

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Afroze Edwards
Sr. Communications Officer
Communications and Issues Management
afroze.edwards@ohrc.on.ca
(416) 314-4528

 

François Larsen