Message from the Chair (updated March 15, 2012)
I am pleased to have been appointed by the Attorney General in August 2011 to conduct an independent review of the implementation and effectiveness of the amendments to the Human Rights Code. The Code is fundamental to Ontarians and I have a keen interest in ensuring that Ontario’s human rights system is effective, accessible and accountable.
The review is being conducted in 3 stages:
- I have reviewed relevant human rights legislation, rules, policies, reports, studies and Tribunal decisions and met with key decision makers in the Ontario human rights system. I have produced a Consultation Paper which identifies key issues and points for discussion.
- Public consultations are an essential component of the Review’s mandate. The Review has now heard back from numerous individuals and organizations through public meetings, stakeholder sessions and written submissions. The Review held public meetings in London (Feb. 14), Ottawa (Feb. 16), Sudbury (Feb. 21), Toronto (Feb. 15 and 24) and Windsor (Feb. 13). A meeting in Thunder Bay is scheduled for April 4. Stakeholder sessions were held with groups representing many different perspectives including ethnocultural, labour, educational, legal, business and disability rights organizations. The Review received approximately 50 written submissions from individuals, businesses and organizations commenting on the human rights system.
- In its final stage, the Review will be analyzing all of the information it received and preparing a Report containing findings and recommendations to be submitted to the Attorney General of Ontario. Section 57 of the Human Rights Code requires that the Report be finalized within one year of the commencement of the Review, by August 2012.
Yours very truly,
Andrew Pinto