Human Rights First: A plan for belonging in Ontario
As 2022 draws to a close, we take a moment to reflect on this year’s highlights. In the Policy statement on human rights in COVID-19 recovery planning, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) noted the pandemic has exacerbated human rights challenges.
From: More Homes Built Faster Act – OHRC submissions
November 14, 2022
The OHRC welcomes the government’s effort to address the housing crisis. As the government moves to implement More Homes Built Faster, it is vital to take a human rights-based approach to housing law, policies, programs and bylaws. This includes Ontario’s obligations under the Human Rights Code (Code) and recognition of the right to housing as affirmed in the National Housing Strategy Act.
From: More Homes Built Faster Act – OHRC submissions
In developing rent-to-own arrangement programs, it will be crucial to focus on the important social role of homes as recognized through the Code’s specific protections against discrimination in accommodation. Every effort made to create innovative pathways to homeownership must be exercised without discrimination.3
Rent-to-own arrangements present a powerful tool to address decades of discrimination in accommodation that have prevented Code-protected groups from building generational wealth.
From: Loi visant à accélérer la construction de plus de logements – mémoires de la CODP
L’élaboration de programmes de location avec option d’achat devra impérativement tenir compte de l’important rôle social du domicile, que reconnaissent les mesures spécifiques de protection contre la discrimination en matière de logement prévues dans le Code. Tous les efforts possibles doivent être déployés sans discrimination afin d’offrir des voies novatrices d’accès à la propriété3.
Les accords de location avec option d’achat sont un outil puissant d’atténuation des décennies de discrimination en matière de logement qui ont empêché les groupes protégés par le Code de se constituer un patrimoine multigénérationnel.
From: More Homes Built Faster Act – OHRC submissions
The OHRC is supportive of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s (MMAH) efforts to standardize rules for inclusionary zoning, and strongly encourages MMAH to take a human rights-based approach to this work. The OHRC believes this is an opportunity to strengthen inclusionary zoning to increase access to permanent affordable housing, especially for vulnerable tenants who generally are protected by the Code. As a result, the OHRC recommends there would not be any change that weakens the rules that govern inclusionary zoning.
The OHRC is aware the TDSB has taken a decision to end the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program. It recognizes your obligation as a duty-holder to protect the safety of students. However, to the extent that there are bona fide and legitimate reasons to seek external help, the OHRC reminds all parties that the discussion and decision should be informed by human rights principles as set out in the Ontario Human Rights Code (the Code).
From: Poverty Point of View (POV)
From: Poverty Point of View (POV)
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.