Submission of the Ontario Human Rights Commission to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing's long-term affordable housing strategy
Introduction
The international community has long recognized that housing is a fundamental and universal human right that must be protected in law. Both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights[1] and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (the ICESCR)[2] recognize the right to housing.[3] Other international treaties that have affirmed the right to housing include the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Canada has ratified all of these treaties, and in doing so, has endorsed the view that housing is a human right. In order to make these high-level principles a lived reality for Canadians, all levels of government must take an active role in developing practical strategies to ensure that all Canadians are adequately housed. Ontario is one of the wealthiest jurisdictions in the world, yet, many Ontarians do not have access to decent housing.
Adequate and affordable housing is integral to an individual’s ability to fully participate in and be a part of his or her community. There is an undeniable link between affordable and adequate housing and quality of life. Housing provides the foundation for general well-being and social inclusion. Adequate housing facilitates access to suitable employment, community resources and supports, and educational opportunities.
The Ontario Human Rights Commission (the “OHRC”), commends the Province of Ontario for identifying the need for a long-term affordable housing strategy. The development of such a strategy was one of the main recommendations coming out of the OHRC’s own housing consultation report, Right at Home.[4] The OHRC is very pleased to contribute to the Province’s development of this strategy. This written submission complements Chief Commissioner Barbara Hall’s verbal input to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s roundtable consultation sessions held on both June 22, 2009 and November 3, 2009.
The OHRC recognizes that many have a role to play in the development of a long-term affordable housing strategy. In Right at Home, the OHRC recommended that all levels of government work together to develop a coordinated national strategy.[5] In the absence of a national strategy, or, as the first step toward a national strategy, the Province of Ontario has an opportunity to lead by example. And, in order to ensure the coordination, consistency and success of a housing strategy at the provincial level, the OHRC is of the view that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) is in the best position to play a leadership role. The OHRC will offer its support and assistance and, to this end, this document contains a section that outlines several possible areas of partnership between MMAH and the OHRC.
[1] Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, signed Dec. 10, 1948, G.A. Res. 217A (III), U.N. Doc. A/810
at 71 (1948).
[2] International Covenant on
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, (1976) 993 U.N.T.S. 3, Can.
T.S. 1976 No. 46.
[3] The United Nations General
Assembly adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights in 1948. The ICESCR was adopted by the United Nations in
1966 and entered into force in 1976. Canada ratified the ICESCR in
1976.
[4] The OHRC’s housing
consultation report, Right at Home, is available at: www.ohrc.on.ca/en/resources/discussion_consultation/housingconsultationreport.
See in particular Recommendation 6 at page 86: “THAT the Government of
Ontario, in the absence of a national housing strategy, adopt a provincial
housing strategy. Such a provincial strategy should include measurable targets
and provision of sufficient funds to accelerate progress on ending homelessness
and ensuring access of all Ontarians, including those of limited income, to
housing of an adequate standard without discrimination. It should also take into
consideration the needs of Aboriginal people, people with disabilities including
mental illness, women experiencing domestic violence, lone parents, immigrants
and newcomers and other people living in poverty or with low incomes who are
identified by Code grounds.”
[5] See Recommendation 1, in Right
at Home, ibid at 85.
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