April 12, 1996
(Environment and Labour)

The following is being distributed at the request of the Human Rights Commission:

Human Ruights Commission
Commision meets for spring session, April 11 and 12

The Human Rights Commission met for its spring session on April 11 and 12 in St. John's. A total of 16 cases were dealt with: 10 were dismissed, one complaint was withdrawn, three had settlement approved and one was sent for adjudication by a Board of Inquiry. This latter complaint involved an employee of the Labrador West Integrated School Board who alleged discrimination on the basis of marital status by her employer and the provincial Department of Education in the payment of northern allowances to persons living and working in Labrador. Present regulations allow for a married couple to be paid less than would two single persons when both persons work for a government department or agency. The amount of the allowance paid to a married person is not affected when one member of the couple works for government and the other for a private sector employer which pays a northern allowance.

On Friday the commissioners met with Walter McLean, chair of the Standing Committee on Human Rights, and Peter Globensky, coordinator of the Declaration Project, United Nations Association in Canada. These representatives were in St. John's as part of a cross-Canada consultation process. They want to ascertain what government, the professional, private and volunteer sectors may be planning to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1998. They were also seeking input for a national strategy or approach to the celebration of this landmark in the recognition of human rights. A valuable interchange of ideas took place.

Contact:

• Jane House, Chair
  Human Rights Commission
  P. O. Box 8700
  St. John's, Newfoundland
  A1B 4J6
  Phone: (709) 729-2709 or (709) 729-5812
  Toll free: 1-800-563-5808