Media Room

Annual Report 2005

On May 3, 2006, the Commission’s Annual Report 2005 was tabled in the House of Commons. As this is my last annual report before my retirement next month, I am particularly pleased to be able to report on the level of success we have had in transforming the Commission’s operations. As the Annual Report shows, significant progress has been made in the past four years, since the Commission established its new business model.

Improvements to the Commission’s processes have had clear results. Since 2002, the Commission has increased its productivity substantially. By the end of February 2006, it had reduced the number of active cases by 44%, and virtually eliminated a backlog of cases. The average age of cases at the Commission is now 9.5 months, compared to 25 months in 2002, and the Commission is making steady progress toward a service standard by which 85% of cases will be resolved within one year’s time.

These improvements have allowed us to direct more time and resources to tackling human rights issues through other means. The Commission is focussing efforts on preventing discrimination from occurring in the first place, through a new Discrimination Prevention program that works with employers and service providers to put in place information, training, and workplace policies that may prevent many abuses and disputes. After just one year, there is already evidence that the Commission is receiving fewer complaints from organizations which are part of our prevention strategy, and we will monitor this impact closely.

The Commission has also put a new focus on research and completed three special projects this year aimed at promoting systemic change. Further research and prevention initiatives are to be released and implemented in 2006.

The Canadian Human Rights Commission is committed to continually improving its management practices, and to using its resources in the most effective and efficient way possible to promote and protect human rights. I am confident that, by modernizing the Commission’s programs, we have succeeded in creating a solid foundation on which this important work can continue to build.

Mary Gusella