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Human rights culture

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Celebrating 65 years of advancing human rights in Ontario 

2026 marks the 65th anniversary of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, established on March 29, 1961. This milestone leads into the 65th anniversary of the Ontario Human Rights Code, which was enacted on June 15, 1962. 

The OHRC has been planning initiatives that reflect the legacy and future of human rights in Ontario, including: 

  • The 2026 Daniel G. Hill Human Rights Awards, which recognize exceptional individuals who have made outstanding contributions to building a culture of human rights in Ontario.  
  • A province-wide school tour to inspire students, educators and administrators to learn about their rights and respect the rights of others, promoting a commitment to human rights in Ontario through education and engagement.  
  • The podcast series, Human Rights in Ontario: Let’s Talk About It, featuring conversations that shape human rights—past, present, and future.   
  • A promotional video to encourage Ontarians to help create a province where everyone feels they belong and to play their part in building an inclusive society that benefits all.​  

“For the past 65 years the OHRC has worked to protect, promote, and advance human rights across the province. Human rights are everyone’s responsibility. As we continue this work, we encourage all Ontarians to join us to shape a province where everyone plays their part in building an inclusive society. Our democracy depends on our willingness to act, to speak up, and to lead with courage.”   

Patricia DeGuire, Chief Commissioner 

 

 

Advancing human rights in Ontario’s changing AI landscape

AI development and adoption is accelerating as AI systems become increasingly embedded across employment, education, health services, and all other areas of our lives. In light of this, the OHRC is strengthening its leadership and guidance to ensure there are safe, responsible, human rights-based solutions to the development, use, and governance of these technologies.

In October 2025, the OHRC contributed a submission to inform Canada’s renewed AI Strategy. The OHRC welcomed the federal government’s stated intention to support innovation while protecting human rights and ensuring that the use of AI serves the public good.

In the submission, the OHRC emphasized that explicitly centring human rights in the federal AI strategy is essential to developing and using AI systems that are safe, reliable, and inclusive. Grounding innovation in a strong human rights-based framework positions Canada as a global leader and a destination for developers, innovators, and other partners who are seeking a jurisdiction with clear and principled guardrails. In turn, it enables Canadians to adopt AI systems with confidence because they are assured that these technologies are being developed and deployed responsibly.

In January 2026, the OHRC released joint Principles for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence, developed collaboratively with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario. The principles offer a versatile and scalable foundation to guide institutions in responsibly implementing AI innovations throughout the AI lifecycle while ensuring the protection of privacy, human rights, human dignity and public trust. The six interconnected principles require the use of AI systems to be valid and reliable, safe, privacy protective, human rights affirming, transparent and accountable.

Together with the Human Rights AI Impact Assessment, organizations in Ontario now have a comprehensive suite of resources to identify, evaluate and mitigate human rights issues associated with AI. These resources support organizations in strengthening governance practices to use AI systems responsibly and safely. They also assist policymakers and other leaders across sectors in developing policy approaches that are firmly grounded in human rights principles. 

Throughout the year, the OHRC engaged with communities, researchers and other public and private-sector partners to better understand and address the human rights impacts from the use of AI. 

Looking forward, as the use of these technologies continues to expand and evolve, the OHRC remains committed to collaborating with partners to ensure that human rights are foundational to Ontario and Canada’s AI landscape.

 

 

Community Advisory Group 

The OHRC’s Community Advisory Group continues to play a vital role in enhancing the Commission’s understanding of important and emerging human rights issues affecting diverse communities across the province. The group provides guidance and feedback on specific OHRC initiatives and helps build and strengthen a human rights culture across the province. 

Comprised of 44 rights-holder organizations located throughout Ontario, the Community Advisory Group represents various grounds and social areas covered by the Code. Among these organizations, 10 specifically support francophone people. 

In 2025–26, the Community Advisory Group held two virtual meetings, in June and November. Members discussed ongoing strategies to addressing homelessness, and provided feedback on community use of OHRC policies, identifying opportunities for updates to reflect current needs.

In addition, members shared information about critical human rights issues facing the populations they serve. 

Member organizations: 

  • Action ontarienne contre la violence faite aux femmes 
  • Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario 
  • Advocacy Centre for the Elderly 
  • ARCH Disability Law Centre 
  • Association pour l’intégration sociale d’Ottawa 
  • Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic 
  • Black Health Alliance*
  • Black Legal Action Centre
  • Bridges Community Health Centre
  • Canadian Centre for Housing Rights
  • Canadian Civil Liberties Association
  • Canadian Mental Health Association – Ontario
  • Centre for Independent Living in Toronto* 
  • Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs 
  • Centre francophone du Grand Toronto 
  • Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic 
  • Colour of Poverty - Colour of Change* 
  • Elizabeth Fry Society Northwestern Ontario 
  • Fédération des aînés et des retraités francophones de l’Ontario 
  • FrancoQueer
  • John Howard Society of Ontario 
  • Justice for Children and Youth 
  • Justice for Migrant Workers 
  • La Fédération de la jeunesse franco-ontarienne 
  • Le Centre de santé communautaire du Grand Sudbury 
  • Le Centre des services communautaires Vanier 
  • Maytree*
  • MIAG Centre for Diverse Women and Families* 
  • Le mouvement Ontarien des Femmes Immigrantes Francophones 
  • National Educational Association of Disabled Students* 
  • Neighbourhood Legal Services (London & Middlesex)* 
  • Ontario Association of Interval and Transition Houses 
  • Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants 
  • Ontario Federation of Labour 
  • Shepherds of Good Hope*
  • Solidarité des femmes immigrantes francophones du Niagara*
  • South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario 
  • TG Innerselves 
  • The 519 
  • United Way Centraide - North East Ontario 
  • Urban Alliance on Race Relations* 
  • Women’s Enterprise Skills Training of Windsor 
  • Working for Change* 
  • YWCA Toronto*


* Following the November 2025 meeting, the terms of twelve member organizations expired. The OHRC sincerely thanks these organizations for their generous gifts of time, knowledge, and expertise. Their contributions have been essential to the OHRC’s work to protect, promote, and advance human rights across Ontario. 

 

 

International engagement: Submissions to United Nations human rights mechanisms

The OHRC provides periodic input to international human rights mechanisms on issues relevant to its mandate. In 2025–26, the OHRC submitted information to the following United Nations mechanisms:

 

 

Supreme Court intervention: Law 21: English Montreal School Board, et al. v. Attorney General of Quebec, et al. 

Law 21, An act respecting laicity of the state is a Quebec law, passed in 2019, which prohibits certain public servants, like teachers, police officers and lawyers, from wearing visible religious symbols while at work. 

The law has been challenged by human rights and civil rights groups across Canada and at all levels of court. In January 2025, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) granted leave to hear the legal challenges against Law 21 as English Montreal School Board, et al. v. Attorney General of Quebec, et al. A key issue in this case is the interpretation of the notwithstanding clause found at s. 33 of the Charter. This section provides that legislatures can preserve a potentially unconstitutional law by overriding sections 2 and 7-15 of the Charter. The OHRC along with several other groups were granted leave to intervene in the SCC case. The focus of the OHRC’s argument was that when properly interpreted according to section 27 of the Charter, the scope section 33 of the Charter is appropriately limited in circumstances that would fundamentally undermine the preservation and enhancement of the multicultural heritage of Canadians.

The OHRC provided submissions before the Supreme Court in March 2026. 

 

 

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