Discrimination, or not? Community Forum explores

phyllistsang — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 22:07:57 +0000

A look into restructured Ontario Human Rights system

You always wear a hijab (a traditional head covering worn by Muslim women). On your first day of work at a coffee shop, the owner says you have to take it off because everyone wears a company baseball cap. Would you consider this a case of discrimination?

What about this? You and your friends are having a great time at the mall, laughing and having fun. You notice that a security guard is close by and is watching all of you. You also notice that other white kids are doing the same thing, but the security guard only asks you and your friends to leave because you are making too much noise. You and your friends are Asians.

At the Community Forum hosted by Hamilton's Community Legal Clinics on 24 Sep. at the Art Gallery of Hamilton, two speakers, Sharmaine Hall and Lesley Brook from the Toronto based Human Rights Legal Support Centre (HRLSC) opened the forum with these scenarios, asking the audience to decide whether they are cases of discrimination.

The audience had two choices: to raise a red sign to indicate "no” or a green one to indicate "yes." For the two scenarios above? Unanimously yes.

The new Ontario human rights system is in full effect since 30 Jun. 2008. The Forum was opened to anyone who wanted to find out how the new system is working, what kinds of discrimination are being reported, and what resources are available to those with complaints.

Last year, "more voices called for social and economic status and gender identity to be treated as essential human rights." The new structure was put in place to meet these new challenges and continues to battle against age, gender, and racial discrimination.

As of 30 Dec. 2008, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) is a three-pillared system, which consists of Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO), OHRC, and Human Right Legal Support Centre (HRLSC).