Department of Justice

APPOINTMENTS TO THE CANADIAN HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL ANNOUNCED

OTTAWA, June 30, 1998 — The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada today announced the following appointments to the recently restructured Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.

Ms. Anne Mactavish of Ottawa, Ontario has been appointed Chair of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.

Ms. Mactavish graduated in law from the University of New Brunswick in 1980 and was called to the Bar of New Brunswick in 1980 and to the Bar of Ontario in 1982. She has since practised law with the Ottawa firm of Perley-Robertson, Panet, Hill & MacDougall with whom she has been a partner since 1987. In recent years, she has mainly practised in the area of commercial and employment litigation.

Ms. Mactavish has been a member of the Human Rights Tribunal Panel since 1992. She had also been acting President in 1995 and since 1996, has been President.

Mr. Guy Chicoine of Estevan, Saskatchewan, has been appointed a part-time member of the Human Rights Tribunal. Mr. Chicoine graduated in law from the University of Saskatchewan in 1979 and was admitted to the Bar of Saskatchewan in 1980. Mr. Chicoine is a senior partner in the firm of Chicoine, Billesberger & Grimsrud. He has been a member of the Human Rights Tribunal Panel since 1995.

Ms. Reva Devins of Toronto, Ontario, has been appointed a part-time member of the Human Rights Tribunal. Ms. Devins obtained an LL.B. from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1981 and an LL.M. from Harvard Law School in 1983. She was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1985. Ms. Devins was a Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission from 1987 to 1993, and also during that last year, she served as Acting Vice Chair of the Commission. Ms. Devins has been a member of the Human Rights Tribunal Panel since 1995.

Mr. Claude Pensa of London, Ontario has been appointed a part-time member of the Human Rights Tribunal. Mr. Pensa graduated in law from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1955 and was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1956. Mr. Pensa is senior partner in the firm of Pensa & Associates and has been a member of the Human Rights Tribunal Panel since 1994.

Ms. Eve Roberts of St. John’s, Newfoundland, has been appointed a part-time member of the Human Rights Tribunal. Ms. Roberts graduated in law from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1963 and was called to the Bar of Alberta in 1965 and to the Bar of Newfoundland in 1981. Ms. Roberts was a partner in the firm of Hailey, Hunt and was Chairperson of the Newfoundland Human Rights Commission from 1989 to 1994. She has been a member of the Human Rights Tribunal Panel since 1995.

These appointments are effective June 30, 1998.

The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal was created under the Canadian Human Rights Act to inquire into complaints of discrimination concerning federally-regulated employers and service providers. Amendments to The Canadian Human Rights Act, which come into force today, replace the previous system of ad hoc Tribunals with a smaller, more efficient and effective permanent Tribunal.

Information:   Johanne Senécal          Stephen Sharzer
               Minister’s Office        Senior Counsel
               (613) 992-4621           Human Rights Law
                                        (613) 957-4940