Ontario Human Rights Commission

The Ontario Human Rights Commission was established in 1961 to administer the code. The commission is an arm's length agency of government accountable to the legislature through the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

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.

Keith Norton, Q.C., B.A., LL.B. was re-appointed for a third term as chief commissioner effective July 17, 2002.

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.

The Code

The Ontario Human Rights Code is a provincial law that gives all citizens of the province equal rights and opportunities without discrimination in specific areas such as jobs, housing and services. The code's goal is to prevent discrimination and harassment because of race, colour, sex, handicap and age, to name some of the sixteen grounds.

The code was one of the first laws of its kind in Canada. Before 1962, various laws dealt with different kinds of discrimination. The code brought them together into one law and added some new protections. The commission administers and enforces the code. However, an independent body separate from the commission, called a board of inquiry, makes the ultimate decision in a complaint.

The Code is divided into an introductory section, or "preamble", followed by five parts. Part 1 sets out basic rights and responsibilities. Part II explains how the code is interpreted and applied. Part III explains the role and structure of the commission and Part IV explains how the code is enforced. Finally, Part V deals with general matters such as the power to make regulations.

Other sources

• Ontario Human Rights Comission
• Ontario Court of Appeal
• Supreme Court of Canada