1. ONTARIO HUMAN RIGHTS CODE

2. HUMAN RIGHTS
HUMAN RIGHTS – Fundamental rights & freedoms to which all people are entitled
DISCRIMINATION – Treating a person unfairly because of his or her race, religion, sex, etc….

3. HUMAN RIGHTS
Discrimination stems from stereotyping (having an oversimplified judgement of group of people).
Stereotyping leads to prejudice. When someone’s behaviour towards another is based on stereotypes & prejudices, the result is discrimination.
When discrimination happens without governmental laws being broken or involvement the CCRF doesn’t apply – it turns to each province’s Human Rights Codes. Ours is the Ontario Human Rights Code.

4. 5 PROTECTED ‘AREAS’
The Ontario Human Rights Code provides protection from discrimination in 5 areas of our lives. The areas are:
GOODS, SERVICES & FACILITIES: includes schools, hospitals, shops, restaurants, sports & rec. organizations and facilities
OCCUPANCY OF ACCOMMODATION: the place where you live or want to live, whether you rent or own
CONTRACTS: written or oral agreements
EMPLOYMENT: including ads, application forms and interviews as well as assignments, training, and promotion
ASSOCIATION/UNION MEMBERSHIP: ex: OSSTF

5. If all these areas are protected, where can you not be discriminated then??

6. GROUNDS OF DISCRIMINATION
If, in any of the 5 AREAS previously listed, a person faces discrimination on any of the following 16 GROUNDS, then he/she is protected by the OHRC
These are the 16 prohibited grounds for discrimination!!
Race – common decent or external features such as skin colour, hair texture, facial characteristics
Ancestry – family descent
Place of Origin – country or region
Colour – associated with race
Ethnic Origin – social, cultural or religious practices drawn from a common past

7. GROUNDS OF DISCRIMINATION
Citizenship – membership in a state or nation
Creed – religion or faith
Sex – discrimination can be sexual in nature, or because of gender or pregnancy. This also includes the right to breastfeed in public areas or in the workplace. Sex also includes gender identity
Sexual Orientation – gay, bisexual or heterosexual
Handicap – physical disability or disfigurement caused by injury, illness or birth defect…a very long list
Age – (employment), 16+ (accommodation), 18+ others

8. GROUNDS OF DISCRIMINATION
Marital Status – includes cohabitation, widowhood, separation
Family Status – the parent/child relationship
Same Sex Partnership
Record of Offences – provincial offences or pardoned federal offences (for employment)
Receipt of Public Assistance – in housing only

9. A new “right”?
Mincome