Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
Encyclopedia
The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal is an administrative tribunal established in 1977 by the Canadian Human Rights Act
. It is directly funded by the Parliament of Canada
and is independent of the Canadian Human Rights Commission
which refers cases to it for adjudication under the Act.
The Tribunal holds hearings to investigate complaints of discriminatory practices and may order a respondent to a complaint to cease a practice as well as levy fines.
Decisions of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal are reviewable by the Federal Court of Canada
. Federal Court decisions can then be appealed to the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. The Federal Court of Canada
can also issue and enforce decisions made by the Tribunal if violations continue and imprison an offender for contempt of court
if a decision continues to be disregarded. This has happened in the cases of John Ross Taylor
in 1981 and Tomasz Winnicki
in 2006.
Justice Anne Mactavish
was appointed Chair of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal in 1998. On November 9, 2003, J. Grant Sinclair, Q.C succeeded Justice Mactavish as the Chair of the Tribunal. On September 10, 2009, Shirish P. Chotalia,Q.C., was appointed as his successor.
Canadian Human Rights Act
The Canadian Human Rights Act is a statute originally passed by the Parliament of Canada in 1977 with the express goal of extending the law to ensure equal opportunity to individuals who may be victims of discriminatory practices based on a set prohibited grounds such as gender, disability, or...
. It is directly funded by the Parliament of Canada
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
and is independent of the Canadian Human Rights Commission
Canadian Human Rights Commission
The Canadian Human Rights Commission is a quasi-judicial body that was established in 1977 by the government of Canada. It is empowered under the Canadian Human Rights Act to investigate and try to settle complaints of discrimination in employment and in the provision of services within federal...
which refers cases to it for adjudication under the Act.
The Tribunal holds hearings to investigate complaints of discriminatory practices and may order a respondent to a complaint to cease a practice as well as levy fines.
Decisions of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal are reviewable by the Federal Court of Canada
Federal Court of Canada
The Federal Court of Canada was a national court of Canada that heard some types of disputes arising under the central government's legislative jurisdiction...
. Federal Court decisions can then be appealed to the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court of Canada. The Federal Court of Canada
Federal Court of Canada
The Federal Court of Canada was a national court of Canada that heard some types of disputes arising under the central government's legislative jurisdiction...
can also issue and enforce decisions made by the Tribunal if violations continue and imprison an offender for contempt of court
Contempt of court
Contempt of court is a court order which, in the context of a court trial or hearing, declares a person or organization to have disobeyed or been disrespectful of the court's authority...
if a decision continues to be disregarded. This has happened in the cases of John Ross Taylor
John Ross Taylor
John Ross Taylor was a Canadian fascist political activist and party leader prominent in white nationalist circles....
in 1981 and Tomasz Winnicki
Tomasz Winnicki
Tomasz Winnicki is a Polish-Canadian white supremacist based in London, Ontario. He was the subject of complaints before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal for his activities, and has also faced criminal charges on weapons offences...
in 2006.
Justice Anne Mactavish
Anne Mactavish
Anne L. Mactavish, a Canadian Federal Court trial judge, was born in Montreal, Quebec. Her education was at Bishop's University, University of New Brunswick and University of Ottawa. She was called to the Bar of Ontario in 1982. She became an Associate and Partner at Perley-Robertson, Panet,...
was appointed Chair of the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal in 1998. On November 9, 2003, J. Grant Sinclair, Q.C succeeded Justice Mactavish as the Chair of the Tribunal. On September 10, 2009, Shirish P. Chotalia,Q.C., was appointed as his successor.
See also
- Human Rights in CanadaHuman rights in CanadaSince signing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, the Canadian government has attempted to make universal human rights a part of Canadian law...
- Canadian Human Rights ActCanadian Human Rights ActThe Canadian Human Rights Act is a statute originally passed by the Parliament of Canada in 1977 with the express goal of extending the law to ensure equal opportunity to individuals who may be victims of discriminatory practices based on a set prohibited grounds such as gender, disability, or...
- Canadian Human Rights CommissionCanadian Human Rights CommissionThe Canadian Human Rights Commission is a quasi-judicial body that was established in 1977 by the government of Canada. It is empowered under the Canadian Human Rights Act to investigate and try to settle complaints of discrimination in employment and in the provision of services within federal...
- Canadian Human Rights Commission free speech controversiesCanadian Human Rights Commission free speech controversiesThe Canadian Human Rights Commission free speech controversy refers to debates that have arisen over Section 13.1 of the Canadian Human Rights Act and the interpretation and application of it by the Canadian Human Rights Commission....
- Universal Declaration of Human RightsUniversal Declaration of Human RightsThe Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly . The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled...
- Shiv ChopraShiv ChopraShiv Chopra is a Canadian microbiologist and human rights activist, who was involved in one of the first major whistleblowing incidents in the Canadian public service...