MINISTER OF JUSTICE THANKS
CANADIAN HUMAN RIGHTS ACT PANEL FOR REVIEW

OTTAWA June 21, 2000—The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced that she has received the Report of the Canadian Human Rights Act Review Panel. The Panel was established in April 1999 to examine and analyze the Canadian Human Rights Act and the policies and practices of the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

"I want to thank the Chair of the Panel, the Honourable Gérard La Forest, former Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, the Panel members, Professor William Black, Me. Renée Dupuis and Dr. Harish Jain and the members of the Secretariat. The Panel is to be commended for their diligence in carrying out their mandate and undertaking a review of very delicate and complex issues," said Minister McLellan.

The Report responded to the following elements:

• an examination of the purpose and grounds, including social condition, to ensure that the Canadian Human Rights Act accords with modern human rights and equality principles;
• a determination of the adequacy of the scope and jurisdiction of the Act, including an examination of its exemptions;
• a review of the complaints-based model and subsequent recommendations for changing the model to improve protection against individual and systemic discrimination and to make the process more efficient and effective; and
• an examination of the powers and procedures of the Canadian Human Rights Commission and the Human Rights Tribunal.

The Panel's 165 recommendations address a number of issues ranging from the human rights process to additional protections. They are cross-cutting and touch on the mandates of many different federal departments. The Government of Canada will review the Panel's recommendations in detail.

There have been many significant developments in the evolution of human rights law over the years. Most recently, the Minister of Justice amended the Act in 1997 to require employers and service providers to accommodate all persons with disabilities and to ensure greater independence for the Commission by having it report directly to Parliament.

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Ref.:

Farah Mohamed
Department of Justice
Director of Communications
Minister's Office
(613) 992-4621

Elizabeth Sanderson
Department of Justice
Senior General Counsel
Public Law Policy Section
(613) 957-3555

Internet

Report: http://www.canada.justice.gc.ca/chra/en/index.html