Accountability framework

The Commission has presented an Accountability Framework in each of the last five annual reports.  The framework establishes targets for the organization’s performance in the coming year and reports on achievements against previously established targets. The following is a summary of achievements against 2002-2003 fiscal year targets. 

SERVICE AREA
2002 - 2003
COMMITMENTS
2002-2003 ACHIEVEMENTS (As at March 31, 2003 unless otherwise indicated)
Promotion and Awareness of Human Rights
In partnership, implement ageism and age discrimination public awareness campaign and related public education activities. Public awareness campaign launched in June 2002 in partnership with Canada’s Association for the Fifty-Plus (CARP).
  Implement Phase III of Aboriginal Human Rights Program. Phase III implemented and the final report submitted in March 2003.
  Achieve a satisfaction rate of 80+% among participants for all evaluated public education. Met and exceeded 80% satisfaction rate.
 

Teaching Human Rights in Ontario: Make additional resources available to teachers on the Commission’s Web site.

New case studies developed.
  Other significant achievements. Plain-language guides on sexual and racial harassment, hiring, how to file a complaint and Commission services, were released in Urdu, Punjabi, Tagalog and Spanish.
Policy Release the Policy on age discrimination against older persons. Policy on Discrimination against Older Persons because of Age released in June 2002 along with fact sheets that explain key areas of the policy.
  Release Discussion Paper, An Intersectional Approach to Discrimination: Addressing Multiple Grounds in Human Rights Claims, and solicit input from stakeholders. Discussion paper released in September 2002 and feedback requested.
  Conduct consultations on disability in the education sector with a view to developing a consultation report and specific guidelines. Consultation paper released in July 2002. Public consultation sessions held in Hamilton, North Bay, Ottawa and Toronto in November 2002.
  Release the Consultation Report on transit accessibility.
Consultation report released in April 2002.
  Publish plain-language workplace guides on disability issues. Drafts developed and shared with stakeholders. Under review based on feedback received.
  Undertake further work to promote accessibility among service providers in Ontario. As a follow up to the survey of restaurant accessibility and the submission to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing concerning the Building Code, retained an expert to conduct restaurant accessibility and service reviews of seven restaurant chains.
  Initiate project on race, ethnicity and origin. Initiated research on racism. Province-wide inquiry on racial profiling launched. Developed Terms of Reference defining racial profiling. Used Commission phone lines and Web site to receive submissions. Over 800 contacts received and analyzed. Public inquiry session held on March 31, 2003.
  Develop tools to help employers implement human rights policies and procedures in workplaces. Established partnership with Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario (HRPAO) to develop and produce appropriate materials.
  Ensure international obligations are integrated into all new policy work.

Integrated international obligations in Commission’s work on: age discrimination, intersectionality, accessibility issues (transit, restaurants, education services) and racism.

  Monitor relevant United Nations Conventions and Human Rights Decisions.

Provided input on Canada’s reports under international instruments (e.g., provided information to Canada’s delegation reporting before the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and to the Ministry of Labour for Ontario’s response to questions from the International Labour Organization).

Undertook or participated in initiatives to explore how commissions can help Canada meet its international obligations, e.g., prepared a submission on behalf of the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies (CASHRA) to the Government of British Columbia’s introduction of legislation to abolish its human rights commission.

  Other significant policy achievements. Provided significant and ongoing advice to the provincial government and private sector on a number of human rights issues.
Inquiry and Intake Services Average response time on calls handled by an inquiry service representative will be within 2 minutes. Average response time on calls was 3 minutes.
  Draft complaints within 14-18 days. Complaints drafted within 18 days.
Mediation and Investigation
Services
Achieve at least a 65% settlement rate in cases in which mediation has been attempted. Achieved a mediation settlement rate of 72.9%
  Once parties have agreed to mediation, the mediation will be completed within 3-6 months. Mediation completed within 4 months.
  The average time required to resolve a complaint, from filing to closing, will be less than 14 months. The average time required to resolve a complaint was 11.5 months.
Corporate
Initiatives
Continue to implement the corporate strategic plan 2001-2003. Strategic Plan implemented.

 

SERVICE AREA 2003-2004
COMMITMENTS
Promotion 

In partnership, implement age discrimination public awareness campaign and related public education activities.

  Develop framework for Aboriginal Human Rights Program.
  Achieve a satisfaction rate of 80+% among participants for all evaluated public education.
Advancement

Release the Consultation Report on Disability and Education.

  Release guidelines on application of the Code with regards to issues of disability in the education sector.
 

Develop consultation framework on race, ethnicity and origin.

  Release consultation report on racial profiling.
  Undertake further work to promote accessibility among service providers in Ontario.
Enforcement

Inquiry Service Representatives will answer 70% of telephone inquiries. 

 

Achieve at least a 70% settlement rate in cases in which mediation has been attempted at the Commission.

  The average age of cases in the investigation inventory will be no more than 14 months.
 

Average age of case inventory will be less than 12 months.