JUNE 21 IS NATIONAL ABORIGINAL DAY
You can read the June 21, 2017 issue of the Commission newsletter, which includes information about National Aboriginal Day and the Chief's Message regarding this significant day, as well as other human rights news.

RECENT TRIBUNAL DECISIONS
(June 2017)

  • Kara-Lindsay Martin v. Sphere Environmental Ltd. (June 14, 2017; Melissa L. Luhtanen, Tribunal Chair)
  • Renee Mandziak v. Taste of Tuscany and Medhat Salem (Decision on Remedy; May 17, 2017; Kathryn Oviatt, Tribunal Chair)
  • Jennifer Sylvan v. A.B.W. Management Ltd. o/a South Calgary Oral and Maxilliofacial Surgery (SCOMS) (Procedural Matters Decision; April 18, 2017; D. Jean Munn, Q.C., Tribunal Chair)
  • Diane White and Kerry White (on behalf of K.W. (minor son)) v. Lethbridge Soccer Association
    Diane White v. Lethbridge Soccer Association
    Kerry White v. Lethbridge Soccer Association
    Diane White and Kerry White (on behalf of K.W. (minor son)) v. Lethbridge Soccer Association
    Diane White and Kerry White (on behalf of K.W. (minor daughter)) v. Lethbridge Soccer Association
    (March 23, 2017; Melissa Luhtanen, Tribunal Chair)

These tribunal decisions can be accessed free of charge through the Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII) website.

AGE WILL BE ADDED AS A PROTECTED GROUND UNDER SECTIONS 4 AND 5 OF
THE ALBERTA HUMAN RIGHTS ACT
(January 2017)
A court application, pursuant to the equality provisions of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, was brought against the Alberta Government on January 6, 2017. The application alleged that with the omission of “age” as a protected ground under sections 4 (goods, services, accommodation or facilities) and 5 (tenancy) of the Alberta Human Rights Act, certain rights of seniors in Alberta are not protected. Alberta Justice consented to the application, but requested a 12-month reprieve to allow the government time to change the legislation. The Court granted the 12-month time frame as part of the Consent Order. In following the direction of the Court, the Commission will not accept complaints on the ground of age under sections 4 and 5 until such time as the legislation is amended or January 6, 2018, whichever occurs first. 

GENDER IDENTITY AND GENDER EXPRESSION NOW EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED GROUNDS OF DISCRIMINATION
Bill 7 is now in force. The Bill amends the Alberta Human Rights Act to add gender identity and gender expression to the Act as expressly prohibited grounds of discrimination.

PLEASE NOTE:
The Commission is in the process of updating its publications and website to reflect the amendments to the legislation. In the meantime, if you are reading a Commission publication or web page dated before December 11, 2015, please note that the amendments have not yet been incorporated into the publication or web page.

For more information, see the Notice of Changes to Alberta's Human Rights Legislation.

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ABOUT THE COMMISSION
The Alberta Human Rights Commission is an independent commission of the Government of Alberta. Our mandate is to foster equality and reduce discrimination. We provide public information and education programs, and help Albertans resolve human rights complaints.

The Human Rights Education and Multiculturalism Fund has provided funding for this website.

Revised: June 21, 2017


The Alberta Human Rights Commission is an independent commission of the Government of Alberta.

Due to confidentiality concerns, the Commission cannot reply to complaints of discrimination by email. Please contact the Commission by phone or regular mail if you have a specific complaint.

You can access information about making FOIP requests for records held by the Commission on our Contact us page.

The Commission will make publications available in accessible formats upon request for people with disabilities who do not read conventional print.