Over the past year, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has met with its Commissioners, partners, stakeholders, education officials, community organizations and the Ministry of Education on issues pertaining to anti-Black racism in all of Ontario’s publicly-funded education systems.
The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) understands that on January 24, 2023, Aurora’s Town Council held a session to hear from the community on plans put forward by Housing York for a five-storey emergency and transitional housing shelter at 14452 Yonge St. The OHRC also understands that Council voted against referring the proposal to the next level, and instead opted for a public planning meeting to address some of the issues raised by the community.
The OHRC is aware the TDSB has taken a decision to end the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program. It recognizes your obligation as a duty-holder to protect the safety of students. However, to the extent that there are bona fide and legitimate reasons to seek external help, the OHRC reminds all parties that the discussion and decision should be informed by human rights principles as set out in the Ontario Human Rights Code (the Code).
The OHRC's submission to the Ministry of Solicitor General’s request for public and stakeholder input on amendments to create an updated regulatory framework under the Ministry of Correctional Services Act (MCSA) for strip searches of people in custody in adult correctional institutions.
The OHRC’s submission to the Ministry of Solicitor General’s request for public and stakeholder input on amendments to police use of force reporting requirements in the Equipment and Use of Force Regulation as well as on a modernized Use of Force Report.
As Kingsville Council moves forward in its review of the proposed draft Official Plan Amendments and draft Zoning By-Law Amendments, the OHRC urges Council to make decisions that are consistent with the Code and support the dignity and well-being of all community members.
The OHRC has prepared a submission in response to Canadian Heritage’s request for the views of human rights commissions to inform the Government of Canada as it prepares Canada's combined 24th and 25th periodic report to the United Nations on its implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
The OHRC believes the Peel District School Board’s Anti-Racism Policy is the most comprehensive such policy in Ontario, and may serve as a leading practice to inspire other Ontario school boards to create or revise anti-racism policies.
The OHRC understands that the Town of Kingsville’s study, Kingsville Temporary Foreign Worker – Final Report, has now been completed and will be discussed by Council on Monday June 27, 2022. Upon reviewing the study and the proposed recommendations, the OHRC is very concerned that the recommendations would, if implemented, continue to create discriminatory barriers to migrant workers living as full members of the Kingsville community.
The OHRC welcomes the York Catholic District School Board’s review of the School Resource Officer/Values Influences and Peers programs. The review provides the Board with the opportunity to re-assess the engagement between officers and students.
