Archive

Our strategic direction The OHRC will promote and strengthen a human rights culture in Ontario that encompasses human rights entitlements and responsibilities, with a special focus on educating children and youth and addressing systemic discrimination in the education system.

Since 2013, the OHRC has been calling on the government to severely limit the use of solitary confinement in correctional facilities. We had repeatedly raised concerns about the use of segregation on prisoners with disabilities, women, and Black and Indigenous prisoners. For example, we intervened in the case of Christina Jahn, a woman with mental health disabilities and cancer. She filed a human rights complaint alleging that she was held in segregation for more than 200 days at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre because of mental health disability and gender.

Our strategic direction The OHRC will enforce human rights and reduce systemic discrimination and inequality experienced by people who are among the most marginalized in our communities by seeking human rights accountability in the criminal justice system.

Our strategic focus: The OHRC will embody human rights by engaging in and sustaining trusting relationships with First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities and groups. These relationships will be built on dignity and respect, and on working to advance reconciliation and substantive equality. We will contribute to nation-wide efforts that recognize the enduring impact of colonialism on Indigenous peoples. We will work in collaboration to support Indigenous communities as they determine and advance their own human rights goals and priorities.

After extensive conversations with nearly 300 people representing over 80 community organizations, the OHRC released our five-year Strategic Plan, Putting people and their rights at the centre: Building human rights accountability in December 2016.

Canada 150: from aspiration to action Read the Blog version of the Chief's message on the Huffington Post website Published June 30, 2017

June 30, 2017 - Dear Mr. Speaker: Under Section 31.6 (2) of the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Ontario Human Rights Commission is required to submit a report on the Commission’s activities for the previous fiscal period by June 30th of each year, to be tabled in the Legislature. In this regard, I am pleased to provide you with the Commission’s Annual Report of its activities from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017 entitled “A bold voice”.

On Monday, the federal government introduced Bill C-56, which would impose a 21-day limit for “administrative segregation” (this will be decreased to 15 days after the legislation is in operation for 18 months). Where prison authorities propose to keep a person in segregation beyond these time limits, the case would be referred to an independent external reviewer to make recommendations on whether the prisoner should be released or remain in segregation.

Toronto – Today, the OHRC released a new policy statement explaining the relationship between the Ontario Human Rights Code (Code), language-based discrimination and French-language minority rights under other laws.

June 15, 2017 - Dear Minister MacCharles, I trust this finds you well. I am writing to commend you on your Ministry’s leadership in development of the new OPS Gender Identity Policy - Gender Identity and Sex Information on Public-Facing Government Products and Forms, and to call on you to build on this important work by removing other human rights barriers that face people with diverse gender identities and gender expressions across government.

June 21, 2017 - Dear Minister Naqvi, in our strategic plan, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) committed to using our mandate and powers to advance human rights by making clear how systemic discrimination causes and sustains poverty. To that end, we are writing today to urge the government to repeal the Safe Streets Act.

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Toronto – Today, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) released With learning in mind, a new inquiry report that describes systemic barriers that students with mental health disabilities experience in post-secondary schools. It also outlines the changes the OHRC called for in college and university policies and programs, and the progress these institutions have made in implementing the changes.

November 3, 2016 Dr. Joel Kirsh President  College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario 80 College Street Toronto, Ontario  M5G 2E2 Dear Dr. Kirsh: Re: OHRC Policy on ableism and discrimination based on disability

April 1, 2016 Hon. Reza Moridi Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities Ferguson Block 12th Floor, 77 Wellesley Street Toronto, ON  M7A 1N3 Dear Minister: Re: Diagnosis requirements for OSAP and federal grants The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has a mandate to identify, prevent, and eliminate discrimination, and to promote human rights within the province using a range of powers under the Ontario Human Rights Code (Code).

June 9, 2016 Letter addressed to Presidents of University of Guelph, Queen’s University, Carleton University, Brock University, Trent University, University of Ottawa, Ryerson University, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Western University, University of Waterloo, Nipissing University, McMaster University, Algoma University, University of Windsor, Lakehead University, Laurentian University, University of Toronto, Wilfrid Laurier University and Council of Ontario Universities Re: Medical documentation guidelines and accommodation

Re: Medical documentation guidelines and accommodation I am writing to all public colleges and universities in Ontario about medical documentation guidelines and accommodation for post-secondary students with mental health disabilities.

Post-secondary institutions have reported encouraging changes to policies, guidelines and practices aimed at removing barriers for accessing appropriate accommodations. Some post-secondary institutions, as well as the COU, have highlighted the need for a consistent, sector-wide approach to medical documentation.

Medical professionals play a key role when persons with disabilities are seeking accommodations so they can equally benefit from and take part in social areas covered under the Code.

One of the obstacles to removing the emphasis on disclosure of diagnosis had been the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities’ (MTCU) requirement for a DSM diagnosis when applying for bursaries and grants for students with disabilities.

In response to the OHRC’s inquiry, several institutions reported policies or practices that raise concerns.

All public colleges and universities reported back to the OHRC.

In keeping with its systemic mandate, the OHRC sought to spread the positive results achieved at one university to all public colleges and universities in Ontario. To that end, in 2016 the OHRC wrote to all public colleges and universities in Ontario asking them to implement six specific measures to reduce systemic barriers to post-secondary education for students with mental health disabilities (Appendix 1).

The OHRC’s 2014 Policy on preventing discrimination based on mental health disabilities and addictions[7] (mental health policy) outlines the medical information to be provided when seeking accommodation. It states that a person is generally required to provide confirmation of a disability, limitations and types of accommodations being requested.

Employment and Social Development Canada projects that two-thirds of job openings from 2011-2020 will be in occupations that generally require post-secondary education (college, university or vocational) or management occupations.[1] At the same time, people with mental health disabilities face several challenges in post-secondary settings.