Health News For South West

Ontario is taking the next step to strengthen the human rights system to provide faster, more accessible justice for those who have faced discrimination and to ensure better protection of the human rights Ontarians cherish.

Andrew Pinto has been appointed to conduct a review of the implementation and effectiveness of changes resulting from amendments to the Human Rights Code that came into effect on June 30, 2008.

Mr. Pinto of Pinto Wray James LLP is a prominent human rights and employment lawyer. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Toronto where he teaches administrative law with a focus on tribunals, agencies, boards and commissions. He is also past chair of the administrative law section of the Ontario Bar Association and past chair of the equity advisory group of the Law Society of Upper Canada.

Public consultations will be held. This review is expected to be completed by spring 2012. For updates on the status, please visit Human Rights Review.

Quick Facts:

In June 2008, the Ontario human rights system was reformed to include:
• The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario to offer direct, early access to additional adjudicators with the expertise to fairly resolve discrimination claims.
• The new Human Rights Legal Support Centre's team of lawyers and paralegals which provides free assistance throughout Ontario to people who believe they may have faced discrimination.
• The Ontario Human Rights Commission to address the underlying causes of discrimination with a strengthened capacity for public education, policy development, research and monitoring.
• A commitment to conduct a review of the new system's progress after an initial three-year period.
• Under the new system, parties have direct access to expert adjudicators and more claims are settled before an application needs to be filed at the Tribunal.

  Contacts:
  
  Li Koo
  Ministry of the Attorney General
  416-326-3266
  
  Brendan Crawley
  Communications Branch
  416-326-2210