Commission news archives
Here you will find an archive of news items that have previously been posted on the Commission’s home page. AMENDED ALBERTA HUMAN RIGHTS LEGISLATION COMES INTO FORCE ON OCTOBER 1, 2009 The Commission is in the process of updating its website and publications to reflect the amendments.
"DID YOU KNOW?" ARCHIVES SECTION
The Commission regularly updates "Did you know?" on the home page. You can link to past "Did you know?" entries.
(September 30, 2009)
For more information, see:
DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS FOR DIVERSITY LEADERSHIP AWARD IS NOVEMBER 20
(November 4, 2009)
Read more in the November 4, 2009 issue of the Commission newsletter.
AMENDED ALBERTA HUMAN RIGHTS LEGISLATION COMES INTO FORCE ON OCTOBER 1, 2009
(September 18, 2009)
On September 14, 2009, the following Order in Council was approved:
“HONOURABLE MR. BLACKETT 438/2009 PROCLAMATION - Proclaiming the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Amendment Act, 2009, except section 9, in force on October 1, 2009; and proclaiming section 9 of the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Amendment Act, 2009 in force on September 1, 2010.”
The Commission is preparing an information sheet that describes the amendments, which will be available on this site and in Commission offices on October 1, 2009. The Commission is also in the process of updating its website and publications to reflect the amendments.
You can read the existing legislation (the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act) and the Amendment Act.
BILL 44 HAS RECEIVED ROYAL ASSENT
(June 9, 2009)
Bill 44, which makes changes to Alberta's human rights legislation, received Royal Assent on June 4, 2009. You can see the history of the bill and read more about Government of Alberta bills and ammendments.
The Government of Alberta introduced proposed changes to Alberta’s human rights legislation on April 28, 2009. Read the news release.
HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE WORKPLACE PUBLIC WORKSHOPS SCHEDULED FOR MAY 2009
(April 1, 2009)
Human Rights in the Workplace public workshops are now scheduled for Edmonton on May 13, 2009 and Calgary on May 28, 2009. The full-day sessions will provide an overview of the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act, in addition to covering two main topics: “Preventing Harassment in the Workplace” and “Duty to Accommodate.” The workshops are particularly recommended for managers, supervisors, team leaders, human resource professionals, union leaders, and small business owners. Read more about the workshops and register for a workshop.
RECEPTION TO WELCOME PARTICIPANTS OF THE SECOND PAN-CANADIAN CMARD MEETING
(March 18, 2009)
On March 18, 2009, the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission (AHRCC) and the Canadian Commission for UNESCO jointly hosted a reception to welcome representatives of municipalities from across Canada that have joined the Coalition of Municipalities Against Racial Discrimination (CMARD) as they gathered in Calgary for the second Pan-Canadian CMARD meeting. The AHRCC was also a partner in organizing the full-day working meeting on March 19, 2009. The first Pan-Canadian meeting was also held in Calgary in June 2007. Read the news release.
COMMISSION RELEASES 2007-08 ANNUAL REVIEW
(March 4, 2009)
The Commission has released its 2007-08 Annual Review. This review has been developed as an educational resource to provide an overview of the Commission’s activities and accomplishments in the core areas of education and community services; complaint resolution and settlement processes provided through the regional offices and director’s office; and adjudication of complaints provided through the Chief Commissioner’s office and human rights panels.
You will find highlights for the 2007-08 fiscal year in the executive summary and details in the body of the review. The appendices include an overview of the organizational structure and processes as well as summaries of human rights panel decisions, court decisions related to appeals of panel decisions, and judicial reviews of the Chief Commissioner’s decisions
Previous Commission homepage news items can be found in the Commission news archives section.
ALBERTA GOVERNMENT APPOINTED NEW CHIEF COMMISSIONER
(February 4, 2009)
The Alberta government appointed the Honourable David Blair Mason, Q.C. as Chief Commissioner of the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission, effective March 1, 2009. The Honourable David Blair Mason, Q.C. received his legal training and law degree at the University of Alberta. He was called to the Court of Queen’s Bench in 1985 and was appointed a supernumerary judge in 2001. Read the news release. Read the Chief Commissioner's biography.
NEW COMMISSION PUBLICATION: DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCIES IN ALBERTA WORKPLACES
(February 4, 2009)
The Commission has published a new publication called Drug and alcohol dependencies in Alberta workplaces to clarify the Commission’s role in preventing discrimination against employees who have drug and alcohol dependencies. You can link to the text version and the PDF version. The new information sheet:
- outlines the situations in which an employee may have the basis to make a human rights complaint related to drug and alcohol dependencies;
- provides information about the responsibilities of the employer and the employee in the accommodation process; and
- informs the public that the Commission does not have jurisdiction to tell an employer when or whether they can require a drug or alcohol test.
NEW COMMISSION PUBLICATION: OBTAINING AND RESPONDING TO MEDICAL INFORMATION IN THE WORKPLACE
(January 28, 2009)
The Commission has launched a new interpretive bulletin titled Obtaining and responding to medical information in the workplace. You can link to the text version and the . This publication was developed in response to the many inquiries that the Commission receives from both employers and employees about medical information issues related to medical absences and an employee’s medical ability to work. The publication will help employers, employees, and physicians achieve good communication and effective workplace accommodations for employees.
The Commission is grateful to the external stakeholders who gave feedback during the development of the publication to help make it more useful to the target audiences.
The bulletin includes a Sample Medical Absence Form and a Sample Medical Ability to Work Form. The forms were developed in consultation with the Alberta Federation of Labour, Alberta Medical Association, Alberta Workers’ Health Centre, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta.
The Commission is also developing three plain language information sheets to complement the bulletin. The information sheets will provide quick reference information from the interpretive bulletin, and each one will be aimed at one of the target audiences: employers, employees, or physicians. Once the information sheets are released, the Commission will undertake a promotional campaign to promote the bulletin and information sheets to the various audiences. The information sheets will also be featured in an upcoming issue of Alberta Human Rights Information Service (AHRIS). If you want to be notified when the information sheets are released, please subscribe to AHRIS. You can read more about the Commission newsletter and link to all issues.
NEW COMMISSION PUBLICATION: RACIAL PROFILING
(November 12, 2008)
The Commission has published a new information sheet called Racial profiling. This information sheet includes:
- a definition of racial profiling
- a clarification of how individuals are protected under the Human Rights, Multiculturalism and Citizenship Act when racial profiling leads to discrimination, even though racial profiling is not specified as a protected ground in the Act
- examples and consequences of racial profiling
- suggestions on how to handle discrimination as a result of racial profiling
NEW HUMAN RIGHTS WEBSITE FOR YOUTH
(September 8, 2008) The Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies (CASHRA) collaborated with TakingITGlobal and the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights to develop an interactive website to engage youth aged 18 to 35 in human rights dialogue and action. Read more and read the information bulletin.
COMMISSION LAUNCHES NEW PLAIN LANGUAGE PUBLICATION
(June 3, 2008) The Commission has launched a new publication called Human rights in Alberta. This attractive newspaper-style publication written in plain language features artwork, stories and photos to make the information easy to understand. The publication provides basic information about Alberta’s human rights law and services offered by the Commission.
Human rights in Alberta will be of interest to Albertans who are interested in basic, easy-to-understand information about their rights and responsibilities related to human rights law. It will be particularly useful to adults who are improving their English reading skills such as English-as-a-second-language students and literacy students.
Read more about Human rights in Alberta.
Read the information bulletin on Human rights in Alberta.
WELCOME TO OUR NEW WEBSITE!
(March 28, 2008) We invite you to take a tour of the site to find new comprehensive information about your rights and responsibilities under human rights law as well as information about the Commission's complaint resolution and education services. Highlights include:
- a completely revised section on human rights in the workplace, featuring information specifically for employers, employees and trade unions
- new comprehensive content on these protected areas: goods, services, accommodation and facilities; residential and commercial tenancy; statements, publications, notices, signs, symbols, emblems or other representations; and membership in trade unions, employers’ organizations or occupational associations
- a media room, which is new to the Commission site
- new FAQs (frequently asked questions)
- a database of panel and court decisions with an improved search function
MESSAGE FROM THE OUTGOING CHIEF COMMISSIONER
(March 28, 2008) After 14 years as chief commissioner of the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission, Charlach Mackintosh is retiring from the Commission. Read his message to Albertans.
Revised: March 4, 2010
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