News Release

For Immediate Release
April 9, 2008

McGuinty Government Promoting Equality, Diversity And Tolerance

NEWS

Ontario is providing $14.1 million in new one-time funding to help build a faster, more effective human rights system, which will be launched on June 30, 2008.

This new funding is in addition to the $17.6 million already allocated to the human rights system for 2008-09.  The new funding is building a faster, more effective system through:

• Special teams of human rights professionals to implement an easily navigable system and supports for those who need additional assistance 
• A new complaints case management system
• New and upgraded accessible office space
• Preparing for the new system by resolving current cases.

The province’s new human rights system, the first of its kind in Canada, will consist of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and a new Human Rights Legal Support Centre.

QUOTES

"Ontario has been a national leader on human rights since its creation of the first human rights code in Canada in 1962," said Attorney General Chris Bentley. "By creating a new, stronger human rights system, we are continuing our national leadership on this issue. The new system will address the underlying causes of discrimination and ensure the speedy resolution of human rights cases."

"This funding is an important part of ensuring the long term success of Ontario's new human rights system," said Michael Gottheil, Chair of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.  "It will help us construct new, state-of-the-art, accessible facilities, including human rights hearing and mediation rooms.  In addition, by developing a new case management system, we'll be able to process cases in a timely way, and monitor and report on the performance of the new system."

"We're building towards an enhanced new mandate for the Commission, with a focus on proactive systemic work that seeks to address the underlying causes of discrimination," said Barbara Hall, Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission.  "These new resources will allow us to begin that exciting change on June 30th."

QUICK FACTS

• Ontario has increased funding for human rights every year since 2003.
• There are an average of 2,500 discrimination cases filed every year in Ontario.
• Right now, it can take four to five years for a human rights complaint to be resolved. Under the new system, a direct access and streamlined complaints process will be created.

LEARN MORE

Read more details about this new funding for Ontario’s new human rights system.

Read more about Human rights reform in Ontario.

Learn more about the Ontario Human Rights Code.