CLU3M - Evolution of Provincial Human Rights Legislation

Name:______

Evolution of Canadian Human Rights Legislation

Much of Canada's human rights legislation developed during the _____th century.

Unlike the ______, the British North America (BNA) Act did not address ______issues at all.

It focused instead on the ______between the federal government and the provinces and territories.

Example: Christie v. York (1940)

One of Canada's most famous human rights cases, it clearly emphasized the lack of human rights laws in this country:

Mr. Christie and several friends went to the Montreal Forum to watch a hockey game. In a bar at intermission, the bar attendant refused to serve Mr. Christie because of his skin colour. He went to court over the issue and the judge awarded him $200 for loss of dignity and worth.

However, the business community appealed the ruling on the basis that under current legislation they had the freedom to serve anyone they chose. The higher court agreed and overturned the original judgment, making it clear that no law existed to protect Mr. Christie's rights.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights

Following ______and as a direct result of the human rights atrocities perpetrated by the ______, the ______formed a division to protect human rights and stabilize international relations between countries.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights was signed by the U.N. member states on ______. It made specific reference to the protection of human rights.

How the U.N. Declaration of Human Rights Influenced Canada

Federal level / Provincial Level
p  ______ - Canadian Bill of Rights
p  ______- Canadian Human Rights Act
p  ______- Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms / ¤  ______ – Ontario Human Rights Code

Human Rights in Ontario

In the 1940s and 1950s, people in Ontario found themselves discriminated against in matters of ______, ______, and ______.

i.e.: one could often find ______agreements on property deeds such as "Land not to be sold to ______or persons of “______".

Not until near the end of the ______did modern human rights legislation begin to develop

A public policy on human rights was put into place in Canada to control ______through the enactment of human rights or ______law.

Timeline

p  1944 - ______ prohibited the publication or displaying of symbols which expressed racial or religious discrimination.

p  1951 - ______prohibited discrimination based on race and religion in employment.

p  1954 - ______prohibited discrimination in public places on racial, religious, or ethnic grounds.

p  1958 - ______created a commission to administer the above acts and develop educational programs.

p  1961 - ______prohibited discrimination in rental accommodation

The Ontario Human Rights Code

The development of these laws and increased social pressure led ______to establish a more comprehensive human rights ______to protect the rights of ______.

Eventually this lead to the creation of specialized ______to administer the law, usually called human rights ______.

In 1962, ______proclaimed its Human Rights Code.

Laws would be enforced through the establishment of the ______.

Revisions to The Code have occurred several times since then to ______its protection of individuals.

The Ontario Human Rights Code has ______over all other legislation in Ontario unless that legislation specifically states that the Code does not ______.

i.e.: the Code does not apply is when persons with certain disabilities (such as uncontrolled seizures) are prohibited from driving under the ______.

Discrimination and the Code

Discrimination is ______under the Code

O.H.R.C. expectations for Ontario Residents:

  1. Avoid discriminating against or ______others.
  2. Address discrimination when we see, or are the ______of, discriminatory ______.
  3. ______incidents of discrimination to the ______and urge others to do so as well.
  4. ______about human rights and ______them to others, thus ensuring that people know their rights and ______under the Code.

Page 1 of 3