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 Because of the current disruption to Canada Post’s services, the OHRC kindly asks its stakeholders to send any communications/correspondences via email, fax, or courier. For more information on how to reach the OHRC, please visit its contact page: Contact us | Ontario Human Rights Commission

In a recent submission to the Ministry of Education, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) reiterated its call for an evidence-based approach to the routine presence of police in Ontario’s schools. In its submission to the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, the OHRC also highlights that colleges and universities admissions should uphold the principles of substantive equality.

June 30, 2025 Introduction: The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) welcomes the opportunity to offer this submission on Bill 33’s proposed amendments to the Education Act, which would require school boards to work with local police services to implement School Resource Officer (SRO) programs where available.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) welcomes the opportunity to provide this submission on the proposed legislative amendments to the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act regarding admissions policies.

TORONTO – Today, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC), and the Indigenous Human Rights Program (a partnership between Pro Bono Students Canada (PBSC) and the Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC)) released a guide and two fact sheets, to address anti-Indigenous discrimination and harassment in retail. These resources provide practical human rights information to retailers and Indigenous people (shoppers or retail staff members) on recognizing, preventing, and remedying anti-Indigenous discrimination and harassment in retail settings.

ContentsThe Ontario Human Rights Code What is a poisoned environment? How can I recognize anti-Indigenous discrimination in my business? What can I do?  

ContentsThe Ontario Human Rights Code How can I recognize anti-Indigenous discrimination while shopping?  Using a Status card or other Indigenous documentation What can I do if I think I’ve experienced discrimination?  

The Ontario Human Rights Code provides the foundation to build inclusive initiatives by enabling employers and employees to understand and act on their human rights obligations in workspaces. 

TORONTO – Today, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) released its 2024–2025 annual report entitled Cultivating a Culture of Dignity and Respect: A Shared Responsibility. This report provides an overview of the OHRC’s efforts to fulfil its mandate to the public.

Under Section 31.6 (2) of the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) is required to submit a report on its activities for the previous fiscal period by June 30 of each year, to be tabled in the Legislature. I am pleased to provide you with “Cultivating a Culture of Dignity and Respect: A Shared Responsibility”, the OHRC’s annual report of its activities from April 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025.

♫ Theme music[Video description: A health professional helps an elderly woman up stairs outside of a building]Narrator: The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act was passed unanimously 20 years ago by the Ontario Legislature.[Video description: A woman reads to a child with a physical disability]

Twenty years ago, on June 13, 2005, the AODA took effect after all parties of the Legislature unanimously passed this ground breaking law. This landmark legislation set 2025 as the target year for achieving accessibility in Ontario. Although there has been much progress, in the targeted year, that goal is largely unmet.

Twenty years ago, on June 13, 2005, the AODA took effect after all parties of the Legislature unanimously passed this ground breaking law. This landmark legislation set 2025 as the target year for achieving accessibility in Ontario. Although there has been much progress, in the targeted year, that goal is largely unmet.

Contents1. Introduction2. Definitions3. Ontario’s Human Rights Code4. Discrimination in retail settings5. Guidance to create safe retail spaces for Indigenous people and prevent discrimination

Today, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) released its Policy statement on Indigenous-specific hiring (policy statement) to provide guidance primarily to non-Indigenous employers on how to appropriately hire for Indigenous-specific positions, while meeting their obligations under Ontario’s Human Rights Code (Code).

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) developed its Policy statement on Indigenous-specific hiring and Context guide for the Policy statement on Indigenous-specific hiring to support employers hiring for Indigenous-specific positions. This Frequently Asked Questions page (FAQ) answers common questions with summary information from the policy statement and accompanying context guide.

With consideration for the limited scope of the Policy Statement on Indigenous-specific hiring, this supplemental context guide was developed to provide a more thorough understanding of the complexities at hand when discussing Indigenous identity and the implementation of human rights practices that impact Indigenous people.

Over the past several years, the OHRC has learned that there is significant demand from non-Indigenous employers for guidance on how to appropriately hire for Indigenous-specific positions, while meeting their obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code (Code). The need for this guidance has been exacerbated by widespread reports of alleged Indigenous identity fraud by non-Indigenous people.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) prepares this submission to provide information to the United Nations (UN) International Independent Expert Mechanism to Advance Racial Justice and Equality in Law Enforcement (Expert Mechanism). This submission aims to assist the Expert Mechanism in the preparation of their fourth report to the Human Rights Council, which focuses on systemic racism against Africans and people of African descent in the criminal justice system. This submission also aims to amplify the OHRC’s advocacy against racial discrimination, particularly anti-Black discrimination, in Ontario’s criminal justice system for the benefit of all Ontarians.

Remarks by Dr. Grace-Camille Munroe at the March 27, 2025 news conference on the launch of Dreams Delayed: Addressing Systemic Anti-Black Racism in Ontario’s Education System

 Remarks by Chief Commissioner Patricia DeGuire at the March 27, 2025 news conference on the launch of Dreams Delayed: Addressing Systemic Anti-Black Racism in Ontario’s Education SystemGood morning, everyone, thank you for joining us for the release of Dreams Delayed the Ontario Human Rights Action Plan to address systemic anti-Black racism in Ontario's public education system. 

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) prepares this submission to provide information to the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism on the OHRC’s work over two decades navigating intersectionality from a racial justice perspective. This submission aims to assist the Special Rapporteur in the preparation of her report to the 59th session of the Human Rights Council as well as support human rights advocacy in Ontario.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) is pleased to endorse the Wellesley Institute’s Consensus Statement on Race-Based Data for Health, calling on all levels of the healthcare system, including governments, organizations, and healthcare providers, to collaborate in strengthening their capacity for the collection, use, and governance of race-based data to address inequities and promote health.

 TORONTO — The Ontario Human Rights Commission (the “Commission”/ “OHRC”) today launches Dreams Delayed: Addressing Systemic Anti-Black Racism and Discrimination in Ontario’s Public Education System, an Action Plan outlining the Commission’s strategy to address systemic anti-Black racism and discrimination in Ontario’s publicly funded education system.  

“I wholeheartedly support the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Action Plan, particularly its focus on fostering an equitable, discrimination-free environment within Ontario’s publicly funded education system. This initiative is critical in ensuring that Black educators and administrators can work with dignity, free from systemic barriers, bias, and harassment.