Ontario Human Rights Commission - Protecting the right of all Ontarians

      LIST OF KEY REFORMS TO THE BILL THAT MUST BE INCLUDED AT MINIMUM:

• Ensure that the bill doesn’t take away any rights now enjoyed, including the right to opt for a public investigation and prosecution of their human rights complaint via the Human Rights Commission;
   
• Ensure that no human rights case can be dismissed or finally decided by the Tribunal without a full open hearing with all procedural rights now enjoyed under law, such as the right to full notice of the case against you, to call evidence and to cross-examine opposing witnesses.
   
• Strengthen, and not in any way weaken, the Human Rights Commission’s enforcement powers and role, including expanding its mandate to monitor and enforce remedies the Tribunal orders.
   
• Guarantee in the bill that a publicly-funded lawyer will represent all human rights complainants at and throughout all proceedings of the Human Rights Tribunal.
   
• Ensure that everyone who files a discrimination complaint and who opts for direct access to a hearing before the Tribunal will be assured a hearing within 90 days of filing their human rights complaint.
   
• Ensure that any Government decision over the funding of human rights enforcement and especially any reduction of this funding, including legal services must be approved by the Legislature.
   
• Ensure that in every case, the Human rights Commission is actively involved, both at the settlement negotiations at and at hearings, to advocate, among other things, for the public interest and for public interest remedies.
   
• Ensure that no regulations or rules are made by the Tribunal or the Cabinet under the Human Rights Code that take away any existing rights, and without giving the public notice and a chance for input into the regulations and rules.
   
• Make the Human Rights Commission and the appointment process for members of the Human Rights Tribunal meaningfully independent of the Government.
   
• Amend the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act 2005 to establish an independent enforcement agency that can receive, investigate and prosecute discrimination against Ontarians with a mental or physical disability.