Ontario Human rights Reform - A call to Action
Public hearings on controversial bill 107 to resume in Toronto Nov. 15 - book your time slot to present now!
November 3, 2006
SUMMARY
An important new phase has begun in our campaign to prevent the weakening of the
Ontario Human Rights Commission and our human rights system. The Ontario
Legislature's Standing Committee on Justice Policy has announced that it will
resume public hearings on the controversial Bill 107 on Wednesday, November 15,
2006 in Toronto. It is VERY IMPORTANT that you call the Standing Committee NOW
to schedule a time to make a presentation, whether you are part of an
organization, or appearing as an individual. (See the Standing Committee's
contact information at the bottom)
Bill 107 is the McGuinty Government's widely-criticized proposed new law that
would strip the Ontario Human Rights Commission of most of its power to enforce
the Human Rights Code. The Human Rights Code bans discrimination in access to
things like employment, goods, services and facilities on grounds like physical
or mental disability, race, religion, sex, and many other grounds.
The Legislature's Standing Committee has announced that the public hearings on
the Bill will be held on Wednesday and Thursday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30
noon at least until the Legislature goes on its winter break. The Standing
Committee is now booking time slots for individuals and organizations to make
presentations. Call now to book your slot. Their staff are very helpful.
Organizations will be given 30 minutes to present. Individuals will be given 20
minutes each.
Even if you haven't previously told the Standing Committee you'd like to make a
presentation at the public hearings, it is not too late to ask. Contact the
Standing Committee to make this request. People and organizations who haven't
yet put their name on the sign-up list still have until December 15, 2006 to
sign up!
Although these hearings will be in Toronto at the Legislature's building at
Queen's Park, they are not restricted to only hear from presenters who live in
Toronto. If you are from outside Toronto, ask the Standing Committee whether you
can arrange to make your presentation either over a video hook-up or even over
the phone, or whether the Standing Committee will help cover transportation
costs.
We are told the Standing Committee is now contacting those already on their
sign-up list to book time slots for presentations to the Standing Committee, on
a "first come, first served" basis. However, even if you haven't been contacted,
don't wait! We strongly encourage you now to contact the Standing Committee. If
you have previously told the Standing Committee you want to make a presentation
to the Bill 107 public hearings, book your time slot as soon as possible. This
also includes, among everyone else, those people and organizations that asked
for a time slot at last summer's Ottawa, London or thunder Bay hearings, but who
weren't given a time slot to make a presentation there. If you haven't yet put
your name on their sign-up list, do so now!
It is vitally important that every individual and organization that wants to
make a presentation be assured a slot at the public hearings. Our human rights
system is important to every Ontarian. The Ontario Government was wrong not to
hold an open public consultation before bringing forward Bill 107. It has left
it to these public hearings to give people a chance for such input.
Unfortunately these hearings are taking place only after the McGuinty Government
already came forward with the seriously flawed Bill 107. The door shouldn't be
slammed in anyone's face now.
There isn't enough time before the Legislature rises some time in December for
the Standing Committee to receive presentations from all the 200 or more
presenters who have already signed up to present at the Standing Committee . We
understand the Standing Committee is considering the possibility of holding more
hearings in the winter, if the Legislature gives it authority to do so. So far,
we have no assurances. ,
We will update you on recent developments and will provide more information to
help you prepare your presentation to the Standing Committee over the next days
and weeks. For some helpful tips, visit:
http://www.aodaalliance.org/reform/update-073106.asp
To learn more about Bill 107 generally, and the AODA Alliance's serious concerns
about it, visit:
http://www.aodaalliance.org/reform/default.asp
If you have booked a time slot at the public hearings, let us know. If you want
more information on how to make your presentation to the Standing Committee, let
us know. You can email us at:
aodafeedback@rogers.com
Please be patient if you email us. We are volunteers, and try our best to
respond to emails.
At the first three days of public hearings on Bill 107 last August in Ottawa,
London and Thunder Bay, the presenters who opposed the seriously-flawed Bill 107
substantially outnumbered those supporting it by more than 2 to 1. We expect
that the small vocal group (mainly some lawyers) who support Bill 107 will be
active trying to get others to go to the Standing Committee to support their
cause. If you are concerned about Bill 107's impact on your human rights, don't
leave it to others to tell the Standing Committee -- Go to the Standing
Committee and tell them yourself!
STANDING COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE POLICY NEWS RELEASE
Attention News Editors:
Public hearings of the Standing Committee on Justice Policy on Bill 107, Human
Rights Code Amendment Act, 2006
TORONTO, Oct. 31 /CNW/ - The Standing Committee on Justice Policy will meet to
consider Bill 107, An Act to amend the Human Rights Code.
The Committee intends to hold public hearings in Toronto commencing on Wednesday, November 15, 2006.
The Committee intends to hold additional public hearings in the winter on dates and in locations to be determined.
Interested people who wish to be considered to make an oral presentation on Bill 107 must contact the Committee Clerk by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 15, 2006.
Those who do not wish to make an oral presentation but wish to comment on the Bill may send written submissions to the Committee Clerk at the address below by the end of public hearings on the Bill.
Copies of the Bill may be purchased through Publications Ontario at 1-800-668-9938, or at (416) 326-5300 in Toronto. An electronic version of the Bill is also available on the Legislative Assembly website at: www.ontla.on.ca.
Videoconferencing or teleconferencing arrangements may be made
for those unable to appear in person.
Vic Dhillon, MPP
Chair of the Committee
Collect calls will be accepted.
Ces renseignements sont disponibles en français sur demande.
For further information: Anne Stokes, Clerk Room 1405, Whitney Block,
Queen's Park, Toronto, ON, M7A 1A2, Telephone: (416) 325-3515, Facsimile:
(416) 325-3505, TTY/ATS: (416) 325-3538
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