Ontario Human Rights Commission
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The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) was established in the Canadian province of Ontario in 1961 to administer the Ontario Human Rights Code. The commission is an arm's length agency of government accountable to the legislature through the Ministry of the Attorney General of Ontario.
The commission's mandate under the code includes: investigating complaints of discrimination and harassment; making efforts to settle complaints between parties; preventing discrimination through public education and public policy; and looking into situations where discriminatory behaviour exists.
Over the past few years, the commission has implemented new measures to ensure an efficient system for managing complaints under the code. There is now a centralized, one-window service for inquiry and intake. Specially trained staff provide inquiry and intake, mediation and investigation services.
Mediation was introduced in 1997. All individuals who file complaints are offered mediation services before a complaint is investigated. Approximately 65%-70% of complaints in which mediation was attempted were successfully settled.
There is a full-time chief commissioner and a varying number of part-time commissioners, appointed by Order-in-Council. Staff of the commission is appointed under the Public Service Act.
Barbara Hall was appointed chief commissioner effective November 28, 2005 [1] replacing Keith Norton who had led the Commission since 1996.
The Ontario Human Rights Commission announced on 25 October 2007, that public transit systems across Ontario are required to announce all transit stops. Chief Commissioner Barbara Hall said that announced transit stops are helpful to accommodate the passengers who are blind and visually-impaired, and that transit systems that do not announce all stops could be violating riders' rights. The province-wide ruling came after the tribunal ordered the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) to announce all bus and streetcar stops to accomandate the visually-impaired passengers, and in 2005 when the tribunal made a similar ruling to announce all stops in the TTC's subway system. [1].
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[edit] The mission
The Ontario Human Rights Commission is committed to the elimination of discrimination in society by providing the people of Ontario with strong leadership and quality service:
- in the effective enforcement of the Ontario Human Rights Code; and
- in the promotion and advancement of human rights.
[edit] Dismissing a complaint
In the Ontario Human Rights Code, the reasons for dismissal can be seen in s.34 which states:
34. (1)(a)where there is another legislative act that can more appropriately deal with the issues raised in the complaint; (b) where the complaint is trivial, frivolous, vexatious, or made in bad faith; (c) where the complaint is not within the jurisdiction of the Commission; and (d) where the complaint was filed more than six months from the last incident of discrimination, and it appears the delay was not incurred in good faith, and there is evidence of substantial prejudice to the parties because of the delay.
