FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 8, 2006
McGuinty Government's
controversial human rights bill comes under fire at London
public hearings tomorrow
LONDON, ON, Aug. 7
/CNW/ - The McGuinty Government's controversial bill to weaken
the Human Rights Commission will be under fire tomorrow from
community groups when the Legislature's Standing Committee
holds public hearings in London.
Where:
Four Points by Sheraton Hotel and Suites, Bristol Room C,
1150 Wellington Rd. S., London
Date: Tues. Aug. 8, 2006
Time: 10 am. to 5 pm.
Hearings are to continue this
week in Ottawa, Wednesday and in Thunder Bay, Thursday.
Many condemned Bill 107 for
taking away important existing rights, like the right to
public investigation of discrimination complaints, the right
to public prosecution of discrimination cases where evidence
warrants, the right to appeal to court from the Tribunal, and
freedom from Tribunal user fees.
The Human Rights Commission now
prosecutes all cases it investigates, cannot settle, and
decides warrants a Tribunal hearing. Bill 107 forces
discrimination victims to present their own case to the Human
Rights tribunal in most cases, without the Human Rights
Commission's backing.
"In the rush to make changes to
the Human Rights legislation the government has ignored the
community," said Bob Howes of the St. Thomas and District
Labour Council, who will be presenting at tomorrow's hearing.
"Bill 107 erodes the basic premise that we are a country that
values human rights. The multicultural and new immigrant
community still faces barriers in accessing services and need
an independent body with human rights expertise to fight for
their cause. Bill 107 creates another barrier to human
rights."
"I am deeply saddened by the
government's refusal to allow all voices to be heard
tomorrow," said Andrew Tankus, of the Dale Brain Injury
Services, who was denied a chance to present at tomorrow's
hearing. "I was eager to tell the Standing Committee that
while changes to the human rights system are needed, Bill 107
cannot go forward in its current form. I call for more London
hearing dates to be set this fall before a final vote on Bill
107."
"For many, these hearings are
an important chance to try to get the McGuinty government to
finally take seriously the widespread criticism of this
controversial bill, instead of only listening to the few
supporting it," said David Lepofsky, Human Rights
Representative of the Accessibility for Ontarians
with Disabilities Act Alliance. "If not withdrawn and
re-drafted from scratch, or substantially amended, this bill
will be an election issue next year."
"We must preserve
discrimination victims' right to have the Human Rights
Commission investigate discrimination cases. We need the
Commission strengthened, not weakened", said Avvy Go, Clinic
Director of the Metro Toronto Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal
Clinic.
The Human Rights Code bans
discrimination on grounds like disability, sex, religion, or
race. Many community groups urge that Bill 107 be amended to
give discrimination victims the choice of either taking their
case right to the Human Rights Tribunal, or opting for the
Human Rights Commission to
investigate their case, and to prosecute it if evidence
warrants it.
For further information:
Bob Howes, (519) 633-6277;
Andrew Tankus, (519) 679-4241;
Avvy Go, (416) 971-9674
