Archive

January 19, 2026

 In a decision issued on April 2, 2024, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice struck down sections of the Safe Streets Act that prohibit panhandling in certain circumstances, effective immediately.

Today, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) submitted Foundation of Freedom, its 2018 – 2019 annual report. This report highlights the OHRC’s work to provide strong, independent oversight over human rights across Ontario.

Foundation of freedom, the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s (OHRC) 2018 - 2019 Annual Report, provides qualitative and quantitative information that tracks our progress in meeting the commitments set out in our 2017-2022 Strategic Plan, Putting people and their rights at the centre. View PDF: Foundation of freedom  

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) recognizes that a strategic, meaningful, consistent, accessible and sustainable approach to stakeholder engagement strengthens its mandate to promote and enforce Ontario’s Human Rights Code (Code). In 2017, the OHRC established a new Community Advisory Group (CAG) under section 31.5 of the Code. In 2018, the OHRC approved a new Community Engagement Strategy, Communities for change, and released the Strategy along with its 2017 Inaugural Community Advisory Group Summit Report. The OHRC remains committed to the core activities outlined in Communities for change. This report offers highlights of our engagements with CAG members throughout the year, including during our second annual CAG summit.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) approved a Community Engagement Strategy, Communities for change, in 2018 and also committed to reviewing it on an annual basis. This Update summarizes the results of the 2019 review.

Dear Secretary Davidson: Thank you for meeting with me on May 27, 2019 to discuss anti-Black racism in the Ontario Public Service (OPS). I am writing today to request further details on the government’s existing and planned initiatives to address systemic racism in the OPS. As we discussed, a group of racialized employees has asked to meet with the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) to discuss their concerns about anti-Black racism in the OPS. This meeting has been scheduled for June 19, 2019.

This is further to the discussions you had recently with representatives from the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) and Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC).

Today, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) is responding to the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, Reclaiming Power and Place.

I am writing to commend the government on its recent announcements regarding investments in mental health services for frontline workers including correctional officers, and Ontario Provincial Police personnel and their families. The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) welcomes the government’s acknowledgment that many correctional staff and police officers face mental health issues.

TORONTO – In April, 2019, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) and the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC) renewed an agreement, originally signed in April 2017, to work together with the ultimate goal of ending discrimination against Indigenous peoples in Ontario. The renewed agreement reinforces our ongoing collaboration with urban Indigenous communities based on trust, dignity, respect and a shared commitment to reconciliation and substantive equality.

Thank you for providing the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) with the opportunity to tour Elgin Middlesex Detention Centre (EMDC) in London, Ontario on March 21, 2019.

The OHRC wrote to 40 municipalities about the harmful impact of Indigenous-themed sports logos in city facilities.

We agree that accessibility is good for business and that employment is a fundamental issue for people with disabilities. In fact, Canada and Ontario recognize through its international treaty obligations that people with disabilities have the right to work like everyone else.

The OHRC generally supports the overall intent of the Ministry’s draft Policy/Program Memorandum (PPM) for school board policies on service animals in schools.

I am writing on behalf of the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) to support Bill 83, An Act to proclaim a Day of Remembrance and Action on Islamophobia.

I am writing today to communicate the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s (OHRC) strong support for Bill 76, An Act to ensure that the laws of Ontario are in harmony with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Today, the Court of Appeal for Ontario unanimously held that administrative segregation of any prisoner for more than 15 days is cruel and unusual treatment, contrary to s. 12 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

The OHRC has released videotapes of a training session on our new Policy on accessible education for students with disabilities. OHRC Senior Policy Analyst Cherie Robertson leads you through key elements of the policy.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) offers the following submission on Bill 68, The Comprehensive Ontario Police Services Act, 2019.

Originally published by the Globe & Mail - The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) was sounding the alarm on this inhumane practice well before I met Adam Capay in a segregation cell in the Thunder Bay Jail in October 2016.

I am writing today about the Superior Court of Justice’s decision in R. v Capay (2019 ONSC 535) dated January 28, 2019. Consistent with other recent court cases and the OHRC’s earlier calls to action, the factual findings in R. v Capay confirm that segregation is harmful to health, increases risk and undermines safety, rehabilitation and reintegration. As I am sure you will agree, Justice Fregeau’s findings are extremely troubling and call for decisive action.

I am writing today to provide the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s (OHRC) perspective on the government’s consultation on increasing the housing supply in Ontario.

January 21, 2019 Toronto - The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) is intervening as a full party in the case of AB v Ontario (Ministry of Education) at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO).

January 7, 2019 - As part of the OHRC monitoring of the settlement in the Jahn matter, we visited the Vanier Centre for Women (“Vanier”) in Milton, Ontario. I am writing today to provide you with a summary of what we learned on our December 4, 2018 visit.