March 21, 2024

Alberta Human Rights Information Service (AHRIS) is a free online newsletter that keeps subscribers up-to-date on Commission news and events. AHRIS also provides timely information about human rights and diversity from other organizations.

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Alberta Human Rights Information Service - March 21, 2024

In this issue:

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is March 21

Human rights case law: Tribunal decisions
1. Recent Tribunal decisions
2. Summary of recent Tribunal decisions

Commission news
1. Tribunal Update
2. 2022-23 Annual Report is now available
3. Upcoming Human Rights in the Workplace public workshops
4. Register now: Pregnancy, Parenting, and Human Rights webinar
5. The Commission and the community

Other news
1. A breakthrough victory for First Nations children and families
2. Indigenous Support Line receives Patient Experiences Award
3. Alberta updates Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Grant program
4. New Alberta Black Advisory Council established

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is March 21

#FightRacism poster featuring portraits of four diverse people
United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

March 21 is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Today, Albertans join communities around the world to shine a light on the important and ongoing fight against racism.

Marking the final year of the International Decade for People of African Descent, the United Nations’ theme for 2024 is “A Decade of Recognition, Justice, and Development: Implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent.” This year’s theme provides an opportunity to examine the issues that Black people continue to face and take steps to create more welcoming and inclusive communities.

According to Statistics Canada, Alberta’s Black population more than quadrupled from 1996 until 2016. Sadly, despite increased diversity in the province, racism continues to impact Black Albertans in various aspects of their daily lives, demonstrated by persistent health and social inequities compared to other Canadians. Racial discrimination also affects the ability of Black Albertans to secure housing, employment, and goods and services free from discrimination. By shining a spotlight on these issues, this day prompts vital conversations and actions aimed at addressing systemic barriers and promoting equality.

All Albertans have an important role to play in speaking out against racism and building a society where discrimination and intolerance are not accepted. Individuals, communities, and organizations across Alberta can all work to challenge the root causes of racism and foster a more inclusive and welcoming province.

People of African descent have contributed greatly to the richness of our province and country, despite histories of oppression, racism, and discrimination. As we celebrate diversity and counter racism in Alberta, we can build a future where everyone is treated with dignity and has equal opportunities to thrive.

In recognizing this day, commit to challenging discriminatory attitudes and policies, fostering empathy and understanding, and promoting a culture of diversity and multiculturalism in Alberta. As the International Decade for People of African Descent nears its final months, continue to advance equality in the decades ahead.

Message from the Chief of the Commission and Tribunals
To recognize this important day, read a message from Kathryn Oviatt, Chief of the Commission and Tribunals, Alberta Human Rights Commission.

Human rights case law: Tribunal decisions

1. Recent Tribunal decisions
Read all Tribunal decisions free of charge on the Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII) website.

2. Summary of recent Tribunal decisions

Bare assertions of the inability to wear a mask are insufficient to prove prima facie discrimination

Tartal v Starbucks Coffee Canada Inc., 2024 AHRC 14 (Alberta Human Rights Tribunal, January 29, 2024)

The complainant filed a human rights complaint stating that her employer had not accommodated her inability to wear a mask during COVID-19, due to a disability. After an appeal of the Director’s dismissal decision, the Tribunal agreed to hear the complaint. The complainant was a barista and argued that she was unable to wear a mask while serving customers. She suggested to her employer that she should be permitted to do alternate work or be put on a paid leave of absence. The respondent chose to put her on an unpaid leave of absence.

The respondent asked for medical information to support that the complainant experienced migraines wearing a mask and therefore needed accommodation. The complainant went to her family doctor, who refused to write a medical note. She then sought out a doctor on Denman Island in B.C. The complainant noted that this doctor’s website advertised that he was willing to provide mask exemptions. He did not examine her, but accepted her self-reported medical information and wrote her a note exempting her from wearing a face mask. Neither doctor was called as a witness. There was evidence that the B.C. doctor later lost his license, pending an investigation for providing wrongful mask exemptions.

Chair Ringseis did not accept the medical documentation from the B.C. doctor. The complainant had only provided bare assertions (Hogan v Syncrude Canada Ltd., 2019 AHRC 32) of a medical necessity that she could not wear a mask. She did not provide proof of prima facie discrimination.  The complaint was dismissed.

Several other complaints stemming from COVID-19 were heard recently and can be found here:

Tribunal awards significant damages for repeated sexual harassment against three female employees

Oliva, Pascoe, and Strong v Gursoy, 2024 AHRC 45 (Alberta Human Rights Tribunal, March 8, 2024)

The Tribunal awarded considerable damages to denounce the actions of a business owner who repeatedly and seriously sexually harassed three female employees. The women filed separate complaints against the owner, who was also their supervisor. The sexual harassment included recurrent verbal and physical altercations against each of the three women during their employment. The owner terminated two of the women and subsequently filed civil actions against all three of them, which the Tribunal later found were retaliation for filing the human rights complaints. Chair Scott awarded:

  • Woman #1: $75,000 in general damages for discrimination (plus lost wages and legal fees) and $50,000 for retaliation
  • Woman #2: $30,000 in general damages for discrimination (plus lost wages and legal fees) and $25,000 for retaliation
  • Woman #3: $50,000 in general damages for discrimination

Commission news

1. Tribunal Update

In January 2024, Commission Members and staff gathered in Red Deer for a day of learning and development. We invited Knowledge Keeper, Steven O’Chiese, to share his knowledge and context on how best to incorporate our blessed eagle feathers in proceedings, as well as how to give life to a land acknowledgement.

In the afternoon, Melissa Luhtanen, Senior Legal Counsel, conducted a case law overview on critical topics affecting the Tribunal’s work, such as racial discrimination cases, applying the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms values at the Tribunal, and the acceptance of additional records and audio files in Section 26 Requests for Review.

2. 2022-23 Annual Report is now available

Tabled on March 13, 2024 in the Alberta Legislature, the Commission’s 2022-23 Annual Report is now available for viewing.

3. Upcoming Human Rights in the Workplace public workshops

The Commission offers virtual workshops that provide participants with information about Alberta’s human rights legislation, an overview of the complaints process, and concepts like the duty to accommodate, as well as strategies for preventing and addressing discrimination in the workplace.

Each workshop takes place online over two half-days, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Email educationcommunityservices@gov.ab.ca to register for one of the following workshop dates:

  • April 9 – 10, 2024
  • June 11 – 12, 2024

4. Register now: Pregnancy, Parenting, and Human Rights webinar

Promotional webinar poster: Alberta Human Rights Commission - Pregnancy, Parenting, and Human Rights. Zoom Webinar, April 16, 2024, from 12 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Showing images of presenters, Kathryn Oviatt, Chief of the Commission and Tribunals, and Reena Khullar, Human Resources Executive, Agilis Executive Consulting.

Join the Alberta Human Rights Commission on April 16, 2024 for a virtual discussion on pregnancy, parenting, and human rights. To promote the 2022 release of our Human Rights, Pregnancy, and Parental Rights and Responsibilities human rights guide, the webinar will provide information about maternity leave and parental leave (which includes adoptive parents) and explain how the Alberta Human Rights Act applies to pregnancy, breastfeeding/chestfeeding, maternity and parental leave, adoption, and childcare obligations.

Registration closes April 12, 2024.

5. The Commission and the community

  • On February 1, 2024, Kathryn Oviatt, Chief of the Commission and Tribunals contributed to the Role of ADR in Improving the Culture of Sport, a public seminar hosted by the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada. Ms. Oviatt co-presented a plenary session on inclusive award-writing techniques as supporting both inclusion and procedural fairness.

  • On February 10, 2024, Kathryn Oviatt attended a Lunar New Year celebration, hosted by the Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism’s, the Honourable Muhammad Yaseen. Ms. Oviatt provided remarks on the contributions of the East Asian and Southeast Asian communities to Alberta over the last 100 years, and the importance of celebrating diversity.
: Honourable Muhammad Yaseen, Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism, and Kathryn Oviatt, Chief of the Commission and Tribunals, holding a red tray of Chinese red envelopes and handing them out during the Government of Alberta’s Lunar New Year celebration.
Pictured: Honourable Muhammad Yaseen, Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism, and Kathryn Oviatt, Chief of the Commission and Tribunals, handing out red envelopes
  • On February 13, 2024, Melissa Luhtanen participated as a panel speaker at the University of Calgary Black Law Students’ Association’s Speaker Series focused on implicit bias. Ms. Luhtanen joined the panel discussion on how an individual’s internal and underlying biases impact their workplace environment and everyday life.

  • On February 20, 2024, Commission staff attended a Black History Month celebration, hosted by Minister Yaseen. Kathryn Oviatt spoke on the importance of Black history in Alberta and the challenges the community continues to face today.
  • On February 28, 2024, Kathryn Oviatt participated in the Legal Education Society of Alberta’s Practice Foundations event focused on judicial reviews. Ms. Oviatt presented to lawyers across the province about judicial review from a tribunal perspective, as well as emerging issues in administrative law.
  • On March 4, 2024, Commission staff attended the University of Alberta’s Human Rights Obligations for Healthcare Providers lunch and learn. Hosted by the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, Kathryn Oviatt spoke to students and faculty staff about their obligations as service providers to uphold the rights of clients, including transgender and gender diverse individuals.

  • On March 7, 2024, Zahra Ismail, Manager of Public Information and Education, spoke at the First Nations Telehealth Network’s Navigating the Future: Discrimination Complaints by Indigenous Parties. Ms. Ismail discussed discrimination under the Alberta Human Rights Act and how the Commission is responding to meet the needs of Indigenous parties.

  • On March 9, 2024, Lara Apps, Director of Complaints Management, spoke at the Edmonton Dental Assistants Association’s annual conference on Human Rights Obligations in the Dental Profession. Ms. Apps discussed discrimination under the Alberta Human Rights Act, focusing on obligations toward patients and co-workers under human rights law. A key topic of the session was the duty to accommodate individuals with protected characteristics under the Act, such as race, sexual orientation, and mental and physical disability.
  • On March 18 and 19, 2024, Commission staff attended the Racial Justice Conference: Dismantling Systemic Racism, Transforming Lives. Zolani Ncube, Tribunal Registrar, and Dr. Caitlin Downie, Policy & Program Consultant, presented on human rights, protections under the Alberta Human Rights Act, and how the Commission supports anti-racism efforts. They also provided an overview of the complaints process, discussed rights and responsibilities, and shared strategies for preventing racism and racial discrimination.
  • On March 25 and 26, 2024, Zahra Ismail, alongside representatives from PolicyWise for Children and Families, will hold lunch and learns to launch PolicyWise’s newest tool for practitioners. The goal of the tool is to enable practitioners to better support clients by providing information on how to request and document their request for accommodations in the workplace.

Other news

1. A breakthrough victory for First Nations children and families

In October 2023, Canada’s Federal Court approved a historic $23 billion settlement agreement that will compensate over 300,000 First Nations children and their families for chronic underfunding of the on-reserve foster care system and other family services by the government.

Visit the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society’s website to learn more about this landmark case.

2. Indigenous Support Line receives Patient Experiences Award

The Commission's Indigenous Advisory Council member, Nadine McRee, and her Indigenous Wellness team within Alberta Health Services recently received the 2023 Patient Experiences Award for the creation of the Indigenous Support Line. The award recognizes and spreads knowledge about initiatives that improve the patient’s overall experience in accessing and receiving healthcare services.

Launched in May 2022 as a part of the Alberta Health Services’ commitment to improving Indigenous peoples’ healthcare concerns and experiences, the Indigenous Support Line helps callers access culturally appropriate care and navigate the healthcare system. Comprised of Indigenous Health Link staff and supported by a Wisdom Council, the free service welcomes callers at any point in their healthcare journey with questions or concerns.

The Indigenous Support Line is available in North, Central, and South Zones by calling toll-free 1-844-944-4744 from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Monday to Friday.

3. Alberta updates Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Grant program

In December 2023, the Government of Alberta launched their new Ethnocultural Grant program and Anti-Racism Grant program. These two grant programs came from the former Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Grant, following advice from the Alberta Anti-Racism Advisory Council to better support anti-racism and multicultural efforts. The Ethnocultural Grants support community organizations implementing initiatives focused on building diverse, inclusive, and welcoming multicultural communities, while the Anti-Racism Grants support community initiatives that combat discrimination and address systemic racism.

The Commission supported the grant application review process and looks forward to the implementation of the successful recipients’ projects. The Government of Alberta expects to notify applicants by March 31, 2024.

4. New Alberta Black Advisory Council established

Last month, the Government of Alberta launched an advisory council to tackle racism and systemic barriers for Alberta’s Black community. The council will also provide advice related to initiatives that improve their socioeconomic well-being and promote cross-cultural exchange and understanding.

This new council aims to complement the current work of the Alberta Anti-Racism Advisory Council and the Premier’s Council on Multiculturalism.