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ACTING CHIEF OF THE COMMISSION AND TRIBUNALS APPOINTED
(August 30, 2017)
The Minister of Justice and Solicitor General, Kathleen Ganley, has appointed William D. McFetridge, Q.C., as Acting Chief of the Commission and Tribunals of the Alberta Human Rights Commission, through a Ministerial Order signed August 23, 2017. Robert A. Philp, Queen’s Counsel, completed his term as Chief of the Commission and Tribunals on June 30, 2017. Commission staff express their gratitude for the leadership provided by Mr. Philp who was strongly committed to human rights, the principle of full inclusion for all, and the complex and multi-faceted work of the Commission.

Mr. McFetridge has served as a Member of the Commission since September 30, 2010. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta and his Law degree from the University of Calgary. Mr. McFetridge is a Chartered Arbitrator and since 1983 has chaired interest and rights arbitrations to resolve grievances and collective bargaining disputes in the public and private sectors. Mr. McFetridge brings to the Commission an extensive legal background including over 35 years of experience in the industrial relations field. You can read the Ministerial Order and more about Mr. McFetridge on the Biographies page.

UPCOMING 2017 GRANT APPLICATION DEADLINE!
Supporting equality and freedom from discrimination
(August 21, 2017)
The Human Rights Education and Multiculturalism Fund provides grants that support community projects that foster equality and reduce discrimination. The Commission is accepting Expressions of Interest for the Human Rights Project grants for non-profit organizations and public institutions (deadline October 2, 2017). For more information, visit the grants page.

RECENT TRIBUNAL DECISIONS
(September 2017)

• Morley Johnsen v. Pro Line Property Maintenance Ltd. (September 5, 2017; Joanne Archibald, Tribunal Chair)
• Sandra Binks v. Trinidad Drilling Ltd. (August 25, 2017; Karen Scott, Tribunal Chair)
• Dean Redhead v. Pillar Resource Services Inc. (Preliminary matters decision re delay; August 24, 2017; Joanne Archibald, Tribunal Chair)
• Ashley Penner v. Irish Pub Holdings Inc. o/a Molly Malone’s Irish Pub (August 16, 2017; Melissa L. Luhtanen, Tribunal Chair)
• Naomi Kowtook v. Carillion Canada Inc. (August 16, 2017; Kathryn Oviatt, Tribunal Chair)
• Kathalin Horvath v. Rocky View School Division No. 41 (Supplementary Decision on Remedy Re CPP Disability Benefits; August 10, 2017; William D. McFetridge, Q.C., Tribunal Chair)
• Renee Nolting v. 847012 Alberta Ltd. o/a Prime West Contracting (June 21, 2017; Karen Scott, Tribunal Chair)
• Kara-Lindsay Martin v. Sphere Environmental Ltd. (June 14, 2017; Melissa L. Luhtanen, Tribunal Chair)

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

COMMISSION CONGRATULATES JANICE R. ASHCROFT, Q.C., ON APPOINTMENT TO COURT OF QUEEN’S BENCH IN ALBERTA
(June 23, 2017)
Janice R. Ashcroft, Q.C., Senior Legal Counsel to the Chief of the Commission and Tribunals, Alberta Human Rights Commission, was appointed a justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench in Alberta in Calgary on June 23, 2017. During her 19 years at the Commission, Justice Ashcroft was a committed ambassador for human rights in Alberta, litigating cases for the Commission in her early years as legal counsel for the Director of the Commission and advising tribunal members as senior legal counsel to the Chief of the Commission and Tribunals in recent years. She also spoke regularly at educational forums and conferences about human rights and administrative law issues.

Justice Ashcroft’s commitment to and empathy for vulnerable Albertans will be an enduring legacy. Her colleagues and friends at the Commission congratulate her and wish her the best in her new role. Read the news release from Justice Canada.

COMMISSION BIDS FAREWELL TO DON SMALLWOOD
(June 30, 2017)
On June 30, 2017, Don Smallwood left his position as Director of the Commission to take a new position within the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General as Executive Director, Claims and Recoveries Branch, Justice Services Division. Mr. Smallwood served as Director of the Commission from April 2, 2012 to June 30, 2017.

Commission staff express their gratitude for the leadership provided by Mr. Smallwood during his tenure at the Commission. His hard work and commitment to human rights have moved the work of the Commission forward in significant ways over the last five years. We wish him all the best in his new position.

COMMISSION NEWSLETTER
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.

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: September 19, 2017