Ontario Human Rights Commission

• Ontario Human Rights Commission

• OHRC

• Ontario Anti-Discrimination Commission

The Ontario Human Rights Commission was originally established in 1958 as the Ontario Anti-Discrimination Commission. The name of the Commission was changed to its current form in 1961, shortly before the various anti-discrimination Acts in the province of Ontario were consolidated into one, comprehensive Ontario Human Rights Code.

This Code prohibited discrimination on grounds of race, creed, colour, nationality, ancestry or place of origin, in signs and notices, public accommodation, services and facilities, housing with more than six self-contained dwelling units, employment, and trade union membership. In 1972, the Code was amended to include the provisions of the Age Discrimination Act (1966) and the Women's Equal Opportunity Act (1970), which prohibited discrimination on the basis of age, sex or marital status.

Originally consisting of simply the Chairman (now called the Chief Commissioner), three other commissioners, and a secretary, the staff of the Commission has expanded considerably since 1958. In 1963, a Director was appointed to act as head of the staff. As well, a number of Regional Offices of the OHRC have been opened in various cities around the province. These include Windsor- Chatham and Port Arthur (1965), Ottawa (1968), Toronto (by 1970), Hamilton (1971), London, Sudbury and Kenora (1972), Kitchener (1973), Sault Ste. Marie and Peterborough (1975), and Kingston, Timmins and St. Catharines (1979). Since 1970, the Toronto Regional Office itself, has expanded to form three different offices - Toronto West, Toronto East, and Toronto Central. In 1978, the Peterborough office was closed.

In 1975, the Commission, which had been composed of civil servants, was reconstituted as a public body of private citizens.

A comprehensive review of the Ontario Human Rights Code was begun in the mid-1970s, under the leadership of Dr. Thomas H.B. Symons, Chairman of the OHRC. This work led to the proclamation of a new Ontario Human Rights Code, which became law on June 15, 1982. The new Code featured extended grounds and a broadened mandate of protection, including prohibition of discrimination on the grounds of handicap (real or perceived physical handicap, mental handicap, mental retardation or impairment, learning disability, or a mental disorder), record of offences in employment, family status, and receipt of public assistance in accommodation. In 1986, the Code was amended to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

An amendment to the Ontario Human Rights Code in 2008 affected the role of the Ontario Human Rights Commission. Originally, the OHRC heard all cases falling under the Code. With the 2008 amendment, rather than handling individual human rights complaints, the main focus became instead to work on systemic or root causes of discrimination. Individual complaints ("applications") are now directed first to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. The 2008 amendment also created the Human Rights Legal Support Centre which provides legal advice to people making complaints.

The Commission has reported to the Legislature through a variety of Ministries. These include the Department of Labour (1958-1972); the Ministry of Labour (1972-1987); the Ministry of Citizenship (1987-1995); the Ministry of Citizenship, Culture and Recreation (1995-2001); the Ministry of Citizenship (2001-ca. 2003) and the Ministry of the Attorney General (ca. 2003 to present).

The Ontario Human Rights Commission is mandated by the Ontario Human Rights Code to develop human rights policies, provide targeted public education on human rights, monitor human rights, conduct research and analysis, and conduct human rights inquiries. In matters affecting the broad public interest, it may take its own cases to the Human Rights Tribunal or intervene in human rights cases before the Tribunal.

Ontario Anti-Discrimination Commission Act, Statutes of Ontario 1958, Chap. 70

Ontario Anti-Discrimination Commission Amendment Act, Statutes of Ontario 1961, Chap. 67

Ontario Human Rights Code, Statutes of Ontario 1962, Chap. 93

RAD: Rules for Archival Description, 2nd edn (2008)

2026-11-16: migrated to AtoM

Annual Reports of the Ontario Human Rights Commission; OHRC website.

Bell and Pascoe. The Ontario Government: Structure and Functions (1988)

Canadiana Name Authorities, 1996-12- 24

Government of Ontario Telephone Directories

KWIC Indexes

Archivist(s):
R. Anger; Y. Shimpo