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A report on second year activities undertaken as part of a joint Project Charter with the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) was released today by the Windsor Police Service (WPS), the Windsor Police Services Board (WPSB) and the Ontario Police College (OPC).

Dear Dr. Mukherjee, I wish to commend the Toronto Police Services Board's (the "TPSB") approval of a project to collect and analyze data related to contact cards and the pattern of contact between the police and members of the community in general including young people from certain racialized communities. I also understand that the TPSB is seeking an opinion from the City Solicitor on the legality of the practice of carding and the issuance of receipts, which engages the issue of human rights-based data collection and analysis.

Based on the foregoing analysis, the issues set out in section 4 of this paper can be answered as follows:

Applying the principles articulated above, in the context of the public transit services currently provided in the 4 identified communities, it is the position of staff of the Commission that the para-transit services in these communities are not special programs within the meaning of section 14(1) of the Code.  Rather, these services are measures provided pursuant to the duty to accommodate under the Code.  A special program, in the view of Commission staff, is one that is “extra”, or in addition to, that which is required under the duty to accommodate.

General principles regarding the interpretation of human rights legislation In considering the interpretation and application of section 14(1) of the Code to the para-transit services in question, it is important to articulate the principles which govern how human rights legislation ought to be interpreted.

Does the provision of para-transit service by the TTC, through its Wheel-Trans operations, meet the requirements of a “special program” within the meaning of section 14(1) of the Code? Does the provision of para-transit service by the City of Hamilton, through the para-transit organization DARTS, constitute a “special program” within the meaning of section 14(1) of the Code?

According to statistics compiled by the Canadian Urban Transit Association (CUTA) for 2003, there are 74 para-transit programs providing public transit services in Ontario to almost ten million people.[5] The nature of para-transit programs vary widely across the province.  The service can be provided through a number of different institutions.&n

A human rights commission with a broad mandate is well placed to promote and protect the human rights interests of older persons and others because of age, especially groups who are particularly vulnerable, marginalized and hard to reach, because it can rely on a full range of compliance and promotion functions and powers in a manner not available to government and non-government institutions.

Human rights commissions, established in almost all jurisdictions in Canada, typically have broad mandates to enforce and promote human rights. The purpose of promotion activity is to inform and educate in order to create awareness and impart knowledge of human rights. Protection of rights depends on people knowing about the rights they have and available mechanisms to enforce them, as well as knowing and accepting their obligations to uphold those rights.

A broad spectrum of non-governmental organizations in Canada also play a significant role in driving cultural and attitudinal change towards older persons.

The Federal, Provincial and Territorial Governments, often working in partnership, have a number of programs specifically directed at seniors. Some of these programs are highlighted here:

Ontario is one of fourteen jurisdictions in Canada with anti-discrimination legislation. This includes the federal government, ten provinces and three territorial governments. In Ontario, the Human Rights Code (the 'Code') protects against discrimination on the ground of age in relation to accommodation (housing), goods, services and facilities, employment, contracts and membership in vocational associations.

Today, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) joins human rights commissions and agencies across Canada and around the world in celebrating the United Nations (UN) International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The day pays tribute to the tragic events of March 21, 1960 in Sharpeville, South Africa when 69 peaceful demonstrators were killed as they protested against apartheid. Canada was one of the first countries to support the UN initiative.

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Dear Minister, Please find attached the submission of the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) regarding your Ministry’s proposed changes to the barrier-free requirements of the Ontario Building Code Regulation.

Marking International Women’s Day on March 8, Barbara Hall, President of the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies (CASHRA), today announced that the association has released a motion addressed to the Government of Canada.

February 2013 - That CASHRA urge the Government of Canada to work together in partnership with Aboriginal peoples’ organizations to: (1) develop and implement a national action plan that will focus urgent attention on addressing and preventing the root causes of violence against Aboriginal women and girls.

Letter to the editor, National Post - Some people will be amazed by the editorial board’s suggestion that “racism, sexism and homophobia have become rare in Canadian public life.” That is clearly not the experience of young black men or aboriginal people, or of women who are fired when they get pregnant or of LGBT youth bullied at school.

March 2013 - The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) is pleased to provide input on the City of Toronto’s Draft Zoning By-law. But we remain concerned that some central human rights issues are not addressed.

March 1 2013 - The OHRC recognizes that accessibility requirements have been enhanced with each new edition of the Building Code regulation and welcomes the latest proposal for new barrier-free design requirements. The OHRC also has a number of concerns about the proposed changes as well as additional recommendations for barrier-free requirements in the Building Code regulation.

Opinion Editorial, Globe and Mail - A recent decision by the Supreme Court of Canada was very, well, Canadian. A young Muslim woman wanted to testify in court while wearing her niqab, saying her religious beliefs required it – and that she had the right to do so. The accused objected, claiming their right to a fair trial would be affected if they could not see the face of the witness. Which right trumps the other?

Published: December 2004 (Please note: The views and opinions expressed by the author are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Ontario Human Rights Commission.) by Kwasi Kafele

Published: December 2004 (Please note: The views and opinions expressed by the author are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Ontario Human Rights Commission.) by Carol Tator

Published: December 2004 (Please note: The views and opinions expressed by the author are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Ontario Human Rights Commission.) by Sana Halwani

Published: December 2004 (Please note: The views and opinions expressed by the author are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Ontario Human Rights Commission.) by John Samuel Ph.D.