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Reporting structure for Human Rights Commission changed

Premier Brian Tobin announced today that effective immediately, the Human Rights Commission will report to the Minister of Justice. The Commission will continue to operate independently of Government in enforcing the Human Rights Code. Ultimate responsibility for human rights policy and legislation, as well as administrative matters will fall within the purview of the Minister of Justice.

On reviewing the reporting structure, the Premier said the Human Rights Commission fits more appropriately with the Department of Justice rather than the Department of Environment and Labour. The Department of Environment and Labour has provided the administrative support to the Commission for a number of years, and most recently worked with the Department of Justice to bring forth the amendment to the Human Rights Code to also provide sexual orientation as a prohibited grounds for discrimination.

"Given that human rights issues oftentimes have substantive and far-reaching implications, and given that the Department of Justice currently coordinates all provincial policy and legislative responses on internal human rights issues, it is appropriate that the Human Rights Commission in this province report to the Minister of Justice," said the Premier. "In six other provinces, and in the federal government system, Human Rights Commissions are tied in one way or another with Ministers of Justice, or with Attorneys General."

The Human Rights Commission was established in 1970 to promote and enforce the Provincial Human Rights Code which prohibits discrimination and harassment in employment, access to services and in the rental of accommodations.

Contact: Heidi Bonnell, Director of Communications, (709) 729-3564.