Human Rights Commission launches consultation on age

For immediate publication

Toronto - The Ontario Human Rights Commission's province-wide consultation on human rights issues facing older persons begins today with the release of, The Changing Face of Ontario: Discrimination and our Aging Population, a Consultation Paper.

"The Commission needs to increase public awareness about the stereotypes and negative attitudes associated with aging," Chief Commissioner Keith Norton commented today. "Older persons face a number of human rights issues related to employment, health care, housing and transportation services that need to be explored," he added. "Input received during the Commission's consultations is key to the development of public policy to help promote the human rights of older Ontarians."

The release of the Consultation Paper fulfils a promise made in July when the Commission released a Discussion Paper entitled Discrimination and Age: Human Rights Issues Facing Older Persons in Ontario.

The Consultation Paper sets out specific issues on which the Commission seeks input. Interested individuals and organizations are invited to provide written submissions by November 1, 2000. In addition, the Commission will offer the opportunity for discussion and dialogue at consultation sessions which will be open to the public. A cross-section of individuals and organizations who provide a written submission will be invited to make a presentation at the sessions. Public consultation sessions are scheduled to take place in London, Toronto, Ottawa, Sudbury and Thunder Bay in November.

"Since we released the discussion paper in July there has been a tremendous amount of interest in this issue," remarked the Chief Commissioner. The Commission routinely holds public consultations in the course of developing new public policy. Consultations promote awareness and encourage community input on the Commission's approach to human rights issues.

Copies of all documents including the Discussion Paper are available on the Ontario Human Rights Commission Web site.

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