FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 3, 2006
Human rights
complaints are compromised by lack of funding for Ontario
Human Rights Commission: OPSEU
TORONTO -- Inadequate funding
of the Ontario Human Rights Commission has led to barriers and
delays in filing and investigating complaints, the Ontario
Public Service Employees Union says in a brief submitted to
Ontario Attorney-General Michael Bryant.
“Our brief highlights changes
that would improve the current system and addresses concerns
regarding the direct access model being proposed by some
lawyers,” said OPSEU President Leah Casselman, whose union
represents front-line staff at the commission.
“We certainly hope the minister
will consult his front-line staff and interested community
groups before making changes that will further reduce access
to the human rights complaint system,” she said.
Some lawyers in Ontario are
proposing that the commission’s mediation, investigation and
litigation functions be abolished or significantly reduced --
a solution that all citizens should vigorously oppose, OPSEU
says.
“Abolishing or diminishing the
commission is not a solution to problems created by years of
under-funding,” Casselman said. That would only undercut
public interest, increase costs, financially benefit lawyers,
and create a barrier for low-income citizens to access the
process.”
The OPSEU brief was prepared in
consultation with the commission’s frontline staff, legal
clinics and organizations representing racialized communities,
lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gendered peoples, and people
with disabilities – those most often in need of the Ontario
Human Rights Commission.
“Making Ontario’s Human Rights
Commission Work” is available on line at
http://www.opseu.org/ops/ministry/ministry.htm
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Paul Bilodeau, OPSEU
Communications: 416/443-8888
