COMMISSION NEWSLETTER
You can read the April 18, 2018 issue of the Commission newsletter.
COMMISSION RELEASES 2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT
(March 26, 2018)
The Commission has released its 2016-17 Annual Report.The report provides a summary of results achieved in the three areas of activity undertaken by the Commission: education and engagement, inquiry and complaint resolution services, and complaint adjudication. It also includes information about the legislative framework for the Commission and the Human Rights Education and Multiculturalism Fund, biographies of the Members of the Commission, and listings of tribunal decisions made in 2016-17. Read the report.
AMENDMENTS TO ALBERTA HUMAN RIGHTS ACT COME INTO FORCE ON JANUARY 1, 2018
(January 2018)
The Government of Alberta has amended the Alberta Human Rights Act, effective January 1, 2018. Age discrimination is now prohibited in the protected areas of goods, services, accommodation or facilities, and in the area of tenancy. There are exceptions that allow specific types of age restrictions in the area of goods, services, accommodation or facilities. In the area of tenancy, age restrictions will not be permitted in rental buildings as of January 1, 2018. In addition, the Act is amended to protect ameliorative policies, programs and activities that are designed to improve the conditions of disadvantaged persons and that achieve or are reasonably likely to achieve that objective.
For details, read the January 2018 Notice of Changes to Alberta’s Human Rights Legislation.
Important information about making a human rights complaint relating to age under sections 4 and 5:
- The Commission cannot accept complaints on the ground of age under sections 4 and 5 until the amendments come into force on January 1, 2018.
- Only incidents that occur on or after January 1, 2018 will be covered by the new protection.
RECENT TRIBUNAL DECISIONS(February 2018)- Karin McLaughlan v. Lakeland College (February 8, 2018; Joanne Archibald, Tribunal Chair)
- Danielle Brothers v. Shippers Supply Inc. (January 4, 2018; Joanne Archibald, Tribunal Chair)
- Miladinka Kovacevic v. City of Red Deer (January 2, 2018; Melissa Luhtanen, Tribunal Chair)
These tribunal decisions can be accessed free of charge through the Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII) website.
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.
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: April 18, 2018
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.