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 the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) released Building on the Legacy: Collaboration, Action and Accountability Towards an Inclusive Society, its 2022–2023 annual report.

TORONTO — The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has reached an important milestone with the release of its What We Heard Report on anti-Black racism in Ontario’s publicly-funded Education System.

Today, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC), Peel Regional Police (PRP) and Peel Police Services Board (PPSB) announced the development of initial recommendations to help address systemic racism and discrimination in Peel Regional Police. The work is a result of collaborative and dedicated work between PRP and OHRC beginning in 2020, to develop and implement strategies to identify and address systemic racism in policing.

Recently, OHRC Director of Policy, Education, Monitoring and Outreach, Juliette Nicolet, joined Radio-Canada - Jonction 11-17 for an interview calling for a province-wide anti-hate strategy, to galvanize and support public action.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) congratulates Patricia DeGuire on her reappointment as Chief Commissioner, effective August 19, 2023.

As this school year ends, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) takes this opportunity to reflect on what it heard concerning the challenges faced by students, parents, educators, and administrators in Ontario’s public education system. 

The Standing Senate Committee on Human Rights (the Committee) invited the Ontario Human Rights Commission (the OHRC) to make a brief submission to the Committee on best practices or policies for combatting anti-Black racism and to share the OHRC’s perspective on a direct tribunal access model compared to a commission screening model for dealing with human rights complaints.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) and the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC) have renewed their agreement to work together in a spirit of collaboration and partnership to address anti-Indigenous discrimination across Ontario and supporting urban Indigenous self-determination. This is the second renewal of an agreement originally signed in 2017.

The Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC) and the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) recognize their complementary mandates to uphold the fundamental worth and dignity of Ontarians by promoting, protecting, and advancing their human rights, including their right to privacy. 

In its 2018 submission to the Honourable David C. Onley on the third AODA review, the OHRC raised several concerns and made 15 recommendations. The OHRC’s submission aligned with Mr. Onley’s 2019 report. The government has not substantively addressed the recommendations. People with disabilities continue to face significant barriers in their everyday lives.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) supports the proposed Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act (“Bill 98”), introduced by the Minister of Education on April 17, 2023. 

The government of Ontario is seeking feedback on proposed changes to the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA) which would clarify and enhance rules related to the installation of air conditioning (A/C) units.

This op-ed by Chief Commissioner Patricia DeGuire was published on TVO.org on April 25, 2023. The suspected hate-motivated attacks against two mosques in Markham in recent weeks are a potent reminder of the surge in hate. 

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) was invited to appear before the Standing Senate Committee on Indigenous Peoples on April 19, 2023 

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has been inspired and encouraged to see communities honour the legacies of Black people and celebrate Black joy. Indeed, experiences, histories, and identities differ among Black communities, but common to their experiences are talent, skill, dignity, and excellence, which reflect Black joy. 

As part of Human Rights First: Strategic Plan 2023-25, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) is committed to work with other institutions to challenge and address the increase in hate expression and help ensure public institutions, individuals and groups know how to use the human rights system to respond to hate.

Over the past year, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has met with its Commissioners, partners, stakeholders, education officials, community organizations and the Ministry of Education on issues pertaining to anti-Black racism in all of Ontario’s publicly-funded education systems. 

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) understands that on January 24, 2023, Aurora’s Town Council held a session to hear from the community on plans put forward by Housing York for a five-storey emergency and transitional housing shelter at 14452 Yonge St.  The OHRC also understands that Council voted against referring the proposal to the next level, and instead opted for a public planning meeting to address some of the issues raised by the community.

The OHRC is aware and concerned about the increasing violence targeted at education officials for doing human rights work, adhering to the obligations set under the Ontario Human Rights Code (Code) and implementing government policy.

On February 1, 2023, five Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers in British Columbia were charged with manslaughter and obstruction of justice in the 2017 death of Dale Culver, a member of Wet’suwet’en and Gitxsan First Nations, and father of three children who was killed in custody. 

The OHRC is deeply saddened over the death of Tyre Nichols, who was killed by five Memphis police officers. We stand with communities who have voiced their sorrow, anger, and frustration over his death.

Ontario is facing a homelessness crisis that is leading to profound and devastating impacts on our communities. As the crisis continues into the winter season, the OHRC echoes concerns raised by local public health units, health care workers, faith leaders and advocates about the significant lack of cold weather services in Toronto, and across the province, for people experiencing homelessness.

Following the release of A Disparate Impact, Drs. Wortley and Laniyonu identified a coding error in which civilian race was incorrectly coded in the multivariate analysis. The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) retained Dr. Maria Jung to independently review the error.

Igi gaa-anokiiwaad imaa Ontario Awiyag Gaa-inendaagoziwaad Ji-Dagwiiwaad Izhichigewining aapiji maanendamoog owe e-gii-mikigaadegin okanan 171 anishinaabensag e-gii-ningo’indwaa imaa, anishinaabewakiing Wazhashkonigamiing gete-gikino’amaadiiwigamigong imaa Kenora, Ontario.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission is deeply saddened by the news about the discovery of 171 plausible burials found in the traditional lands of Wauzhushk Onigum Nation, at the former St. Mary’s Indian Residential School in Kenora, Ontario.