Recently, both the Ontario and federal governments launched significant new initiatives intended to promote inclusivity and ensure equitable treatment of trans and non-binary gendered persons, with a particular focus on gender identification information…
Practice Area: Human Rights
Ontario, Federal Governments Launch Gender Inclusivity Initiatives
On June 29, 2016, the Ontario government announced significant new initiatives intended to promote inclusivity and ensure equitable treatment of trans and non-binary gendered persons…
Reaching Out – Eleventh Edition
In this Issue: The Human Rights Tribunal rules that a man’s goatee is not protected by the Ontario Human Rights Code, WSIB and Mental Stress Claims and more…
ESA and AODA Changes Employers Should Note
Employers should be aware of recent changes related to the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) – a new Hours of Work and Overtime Pay…
Appellate Court Upholds Significant Remedy Decision of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario
A decision of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (Tribunal) which ordered reinstatement and back wages for an employee who had been…
Accrual of Service or Seniority Based on “Days Worked” is Not Discriminatory, Tribunal Rules
The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO) recently issued a decision of particular interest to employers with groups of employees who, although covered by a collective agreement, accrue service…
Federal Reforms Introduced to Prohibit Discrimination on Basis of Gender Identity or Gender Expression
On May 17, 2016, the federal government introduced Bill C-16, An Act to amend the Canadian Human Rights Act and the Criminal Code, proposed legislation adding gender identity and gender expression to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination in the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA). If passed, Bill C-16 would protect transgender and gender-diverse…
New Regulations Outline Details of Requirements Under Ontario’s Sexual Violence and Harassment Legislation for Colleges and Universities
The Ontario government has filed two regulations mandating the content of sexual violence policies which colleges and universities must develop and implement pursuant to the Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act (Supporting Survivors and Challenging Sexual Violence and Harassment), 2015 (“Act”).
Human Rights Tribunal Rules that Miscarriage is a Disability
In a recent decision, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (Tribunal) found that the Applicant, who had suffered a miscarriage, had a disability within the meaning of the Human Rights Code (Code). While this decision has garnered much attention in the media, its potential significance for employers going forward may not result from the particular…
$30,000 in Damages Awarded against Volunteer Board of Directors for Discriminatory Posters in Housing Co-operative
The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (Tribunal) recently awarded $30,000.00 in damages against the volunteer members of the Board of Directors of Rouge Valley Co-operative Homes Inc.