NLIS 4
May 19, 2006
(Justice)

Government amends Human Rights Code

Justice Minister and Attorney General Tom Marshall said today the amendments to the Human Rights Code that passed in the House of Assembly this week will strengthen the code and will increase its importance for residents of this province particularly the most vulnerable in society.

�These amendments prohibit discrimination based on age, family status, and source of income and extend the limitation period for bringing a complaint from six months to one year.  These amendments constitute the most substantive series of reforms since the present Human Rights Code was put into force in 1988,� said Minister Marshall.  �The amendments we have introduced will truly benefit our senior citizens, single parent families and persons in receipt of income support.�

�We have prohibited discrimination on the basis of age when persons are engaged in activities such as purchasing services or goods or renting living accommodations,� said Minister Marshall.  �The code did prohibit age discrimination in employment but such protection was only available to workers between the ages of 19 to 65.  Government has removed the upper age limit of 65 so that workers 19 years of age and older are now able to bring complaints of employment discrimination due to age.�

�The House of Assembly also passed an amendment to prohibit discrimination on the basis of family status. No parent should be denied accommodations, services, and goods or face discrimination in employment as a result of being in a parent and child relationship.�

Minister Marshall said another amendment prohibits discrimination based on source of income.  �This amendment would be of particular importance to persons who may be denied rental accommodation solely because they receive social assistance.  Persons would still be required to have a sufficient amount of income to pay for rent and services.  However, people should not face discrimination just because they receive social assistance and income support.�

Minister Marshall noted that government has also amended the limitation period within which a complaint of discrimination may be made.  �At present, the code requires that a complaint be made to the Human Rights Commission within six months after an alleged contravention of the code has occurred,� stated the Minister.  �Government has extended the limitation period for bringing a complaint to one year.  This change will provide persons who may have been discriminated against with more time to assess their situations and decide whether to proceed with a complaint.�

The Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination and harassment on a number of specified grounds and enables persons to make complaints of discrimination and have those complaints investigated and addressed by the Human Rights Commission.  The present Human Rights Code came into force on October 1, 1988.

�The recognition and protection of human rights is a hallmark of a civilized and tolerant society.  How we as a society recognize and respect the dignity and worth of all persons without consideration of race, sex, creed or colour is an indication of how we have advanced in the acceptance of the inherent value and worth of all persons in the province,� Minister Marshall concluded.

Media contact: Billy Hickey, Communications, (709)729-6985, 691-6390

2006 05 19                                                        12:00 p.m.