- Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission
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Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission Independent agency overview Jurisdiction Government of Nova Scotia Headquarters Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia Employees 21.0 FTE (2009-2010) Annual budget CAD$2.1 million (2009-2010) Minister responsible Ross Landry, [Department of Justice] Independent agency executives Eunice Harker Chief1_position = Chair of the Human Rights Commission
Norbert Commeau, Vice-Chairperson, CommissionersParent department Department of Justice Website Template:Http://humanrights.gov.ns.ca/
The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission (the “Commission”) was established in the Nova Scotia, Canada in 1967 to administer the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act. The Commission is an arm's length independent agency of government accountable to the Department of Justice for budgetary issues. The Commission's mandate under the Act includes: preventing discrimination through public education and public policy; and looking into situations where discriminatory behaviour exists.[1]Contents
Abilities
Halifax Metro Transit Accessibility Improvements Disabled transit riders in Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, are seeing improved accessibility in 2011. Halifax Metro Transit engaged in a wide-ranging dialogue, facilitated by the Commission, with two passengers who use wheelchairs. These conversations created many striking improvements in in services. The resolutions, available on the Commission's website, begin resolve the accessibility concerns shared by the larger disabled communities around Halifax's public transportation. For those with mobility challenges, public transportation is a essential service to engage work, school, and cultural life.
These significant changes are being implemented the fall of 2011. All low floor buses, for example, will accept wheelchair passengers unless the physical stop cannot accommodate the bus ramp and/or other safety concerns. These changes are adressing complaints that access to buses was unduly restricted due to policy rather than actual operational needs or limitations. Previously, policy dictated that low floor buses could pick up passengers only when the entire route was designated accessible (i.e, every stop on the route was determined to be an accessible stop). A full inventory and upgrade of the non-accessible stops is also underway. Details on the changes are found below.[2]
International Day of Persons with Disabilities The Commision co-hosts an annual sympostium in celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
LGBT
The Commission participates in the annual Gay Pride Parade.
International Human Rights Day
The Commission sponsor the annual International Human Rights Day (December 10).
Dispute Resolution Program
Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission is the first commission in Canada to engage a restorative dispute resolution process. With this change, the Commission will move away from the traditional investigation with optional mediation. This approach process was often long and seldom involved the bringing parties together except for an adversarial public inquiry. The current resolution uses a more collaborative, restorative approach which will facilitate a more responsive and timely resolution.
Controversies
See also
- Human Rights in Canada
- Canadian Human Rights Commission
- Canadian Human Rights Commission free speech controversy
- Court of Appeal for Nova Scotia
- Supreme Court of Canada
- Canadian Islamic Congress human rights complaint against Maclean's Magazine
References
External links
Categories:- Nova Scotia law
- Nova Scotia government departments and agencies
- Human rights organizations based in Canada
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