Under paragraph 27(1)(b) of the Canadian Human Rights Act, the Commission has a responsibility to “undertake or sponsor research programs relating to its duties and functions under this Act and respecting the principle described in section 2.”
Section 2 of the Canadian Human Rights Act states that the purpose of the Act is “to give effect, within the purview of matters coming within the legislative authority of Parliament, to the principle that all individuals should have an opportunity equal with other individuals to make for themselves the lives that they are able and wish to have and to have their needs accommodated, consistent with their duties and obligations as members of society.”
The research program supports the Commission’s work, in its development of:
Research will be disseminated and used to inform and educate others. In some instances, research will provide a starting point for debating current societal issues, such as mandatory retirement and environmental sensitivities.
The research program will also support the work of stakeholders, such as employers, unions, parliamentarians, research centres on human rights, non-governmental organizations, officials responsible for developing public policy, and provincial and territorial commissions.
The Commission will first list the topics that it wants researched and prepare a statement of work required for each.
It may then use one of the following approaches:
Proposals will then be assessed based on criteria such as:
A research contract will then be drawn up.