Archive

I am excited to have the opportunity to share with you the results of the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s (the “Commission”) groundbreaking project on discrimination on family status. The project is the first in Canada to examine the human rights implications of the barriers faced by families who are caring for children, aging parents or relatives, and family members with disabilities.

WHEREAS on July 7, 2005, the OHRC initiated a complaint, number GKEA-6DUH6W, pursuant to subsection 32(2) of the Human Rights Code in the public interest and on behalf of racialized students and students with disabilities alleging that the application of the safe schools provisions of the Education Act and the Ministry’s and school boards’ policies on discipline are having a disproportionate impact on racial minority students and students with disabilities. NOW THEREFORE, the Parties agree to settle these matters as follows:

Toronto - A landmark settlement reached this week between the Ontario Human Rights Commission and the Ontario Ministry of Education will promote school safety while ensuring that all students, including students with disabilities and racialized students, are given the opportunity to reach their full potential.

March 2007 - While the Code protects against discrimination in a broad range of situations relating to housing, this Paper will focus on residential tenancies, or rental housing arrangements. Housing studies indicate that those who live in rental housing are persons, typically, who have lower incomes and who are disproportionately vulnerable to discrimination and therefore identified by the Code. This Paper is intended to provide an overview of the social and legal context for understanding the human rights issues in the area of rental housing. The Commission sees this Paper as the background for a broad exploration of human rights issues in the area of rental housing.

March 2007 - The Ontario Human Rights Commission (the Commission) is soliciting your views on a range of human rights issues in rental housing. The Background Paper contains a detailed discussion of these issues and provides social and legal context. It also provides some information about the matters that are of greatest concern to the Commission. This Consultation Paper focuses on the major areas on which input is being sought.

Toronto – Toronto Police Service (TPS), the Toronto Police Services Board (TPSB), and the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) have reached a milestone agreement to bring about institutional change in combating racism and discrimination.

2007 - This Fact Sheet highlights the human rights principles that apply to the education of students with disabilities during strikes, walkouts, work stoppages or other job actions involving educational assistants. The information in this backgrounder is intended to set the stage for government, unions, school boards and others to act proactively to ensure equal access to education for students with disabilities during strikes or other work stoppages.

Toronto - A pilot project, aimed at speeding up the way complaints are processed, is underway at the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

As you know, changes are underway in the Ontario’s Human Rights system. In the next few years, we will see a change in roles and responsibilities as we work together to prevent discrimination and promote equality.

Toronto - This year’s celebration of Black History Month is particularly significant as it marks the 200th anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act. Despite many positive developments in human rights protections since then, racism and racial discrimination continue to exist. Eliminating them and the barriers they create for many requires real commitment and joint effort from governments, institutions and organizations … in short, from all of us.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission is piloting changes to its complaint processing system to make it more straightforward.

As of December 12, 2006, the Ontario Human Rights Code protects all persons aged 18 and over against discrimination in employment on the basis of their age. This means that employers cannot make decisions about hiring, promotion, training opportunities, or termination on the basis of an employee’s age.

Since December 10, 1948, when the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed by Canada and other member States of the United Nations, Ontario’s human rights system has evolved to be a leader within the global human rights system. All of us have every reason to be proud of that and what we have accomplished.

Toronto - Today, the Ontario Human Rights Commission hosted a full-day workshop on Creating and Strengthening National Human Rights Institutions Abroad: Engaging Canada’s human rights agencies in international cooperation for the promotion of human rights. The Workshop looked at past collaborations between human rights commissions in Canada and others abroad and explored opportunities for new initiatives in partnerships with other Canadian and international actors.

November 2006 - The Cost of Caring is the final Report on the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s (“the Commission”) research and public consultation on issues related to the ground of family status.

Toronto - On the weekend of November 24-26 th more than 1,100 people visited the Ontario Human Rights Commission booth at the Canadian Aboriginal Festival at the Rogers Centre in Toronto where staff volunteers distributed human rights information in three Aboriginal languages.

Toronto - I wish to express my profound dismay at your Government’s notice to invoke closure and prematurely end debate on Bill 107, An Act to Reform the Ontario Human Rights Act. From the start of the Bill 107 process, more than a year ago, the Commission has commented on the need for full consultation by the Ministry of the Attorney General. What should have been a broad, consensus-building exercise in the best traditions of promoting human rights, was undertaken in a way which, instead, caused division within the communities concerned.

I am pleased to be with you this morning and to bring you the view of the Commission on Bill 107 and its implications for the Human Rights System in Ontario. I anticipate that over the next few days and weeks you will hear many considered and informed opinions about the proposed legislation.

Equal access by persons with disabilities, older Ontarians, and families with young children to adequate, dignified public transit services is a right protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code. For many, it is also a necessity – in order to obtain an education, find and keep a job, or use basic public services like health care. Lack of access to transit may also lead to isolation, as visiting friends or participating in the life of the community becomes difficult or impossible. Unfortunately, equal access to transit services is far from reality for many Ontarians.

Toronto - Ministry of the Attorney General: News Release

The Canadian Commission for UNESCO (CCU) is calling for a Canadian Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism. This draft Preliminary Proposal for a coalition has been prepared by a Pan-Canadian Working Group lead by CCU. It is based on UNESCO’s initiative for an international coalition of cities against racism. The OHRC has lent its expertise and support to the CCU in developing the preliminary proposal.

2006 - The Ministry of the Attorney General, which has responsibility for Ontario’s Human Rights Code (the “Code”), has indicated that it is committed to reviewing and strengthening Ontario’s human rights system, and that it intends to develop a blueprint for change in the upcoming months. The Ontario Human Rights Commission (“OHRC”) believes that there is a need, as well as an opportunity, to review the functioning of Ontario’s human rights system, and to consider changes that will strengthen human rights protections in this province.

Toronto - A recent settlement negotiated by the Ontario Human Rights Commission (the “Commission”) guarantees equality between female and male doctors seeking parental leave benefits from their employers, Chief Commissioner Barbara Hall announced today.

Toronto - Ontario Human Rights Chief Commissioner Barbara Hall was invited to chair a number of sessions at the XVI International AIDS 2006 Conference, including two conference seminars held earlier this week on Hot Topics in Human Rights and HIV/AIDS and Time to Deliver on Stigma and Discrimination.

2006 - Education is central to the life of an individual in the community. It provides opportunities for personal, social, and academic growth and development. It sets the stage for later life experiences, most especially in employment. It is also an important venue for integration into the life of the community.