Commission news archives

Here you will find an archive of news items that have previously been posted on the Commission's home page.

"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.

COMMISSION CONGRATULATES LEGAL COUNSEL ARMAN CHAK
(August 14, 2011)
The Commission congratulates Arman Chak of Edmonton, legal counsel with the Alberta Human Rights Commission, on winning the 2011 Young Lawyers-Canadian Bar Association (YL-CBA) Pro Bono Award for outstanding legal services benefiting the community. Read more.  

COMMISSION HAS UPDATED INTERPRETIVE BULLETIN
"HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY"
(December 17, 2010)
The Commission interpretive bulletin Human right in the hospitality industry has been updated to reflect the October 2009 amendments to the province's human rights legislation, to clarify and update content, and to update the case law. In addition, the section "Examples of prohibited discrimination in the hospitality industry" has been expanded to include examples related to refusing service to, discriminating against, or harassing a person based on their sexual orientation or gender. The bulletin is available in a text version and a printable PDF version.

DECEMBER 10TH IS INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
(December 10, 2010)
International Human Rights Day marks the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by United Nations (UN) members on December 10, 1948. 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 entitled. Read more in the December 10, 2010 issue of the Commission newsletter.

DECEMBER 3RD MARKS THE UN INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
(December 3, 2010)
December 3rd marks the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a day to promote a better understanding of disability-related issues, the rights of persons with disabilities, and their integration in every aspect of the political, social, economic and cultural life of their communities. Read the news release from the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies.

COMMISSION HAS UPDATED PLAIN LANGUAGE PUBLICATION
"HUMAN RIGHTS IN ALBERTA"
(November 30, 2010)
The Commission plain language publication Human rights in Alberta has been updated to reflect the October 2009 amendments to the province's human rights legislation.

The Commission continues to update its website and all of its publications to reflect the October 2009 amendments to Alberta's human rights legislation. If you would like to be notified when website sections and publications are updated, you can subscribe to Alberta Human Rights Information Service (AHRIS), the Commission's free online newsletter. To subscribe, please send an e-mail titled "AHRIS subscription" to educationcommunityservices@gov.ab.ca and include your e-mail address in the message.

For more information, see:

COMMISSION RELEASES 2009-2010 ANNUAL REVIEW
(October 29, 2010)
The Commission has released its 2009-10 Annual Review. This review has been developed as a reporting instrument in fulfillment of the requirements of Section 19 of the Alberta Human Rights Act. It also serves as an educational resource about the work of the Commission.

The 2009-10 Annual Review includes a summary of results achieved in the three separate and distinct areas of activity undertaken by the Commission:

  • the work of the Chief of the Commission and Tribunals;
  • the work of the Director of the Commission and staff in resolving and settling complaints and in delivering public information, education and consultation services; and
  • the work of the tribunals in adjudicating complaints and the work of the Chief of the Commission and Tribunals in responding to requests for review of the decisions made by the Director of the Commission to dismiss or discontinue complaints. 

The message from the Chief of the Commission and Tribunals serves as an executive summary of the annual review. Read the 2009-10 Annual Review.

    GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA APPOINTS NEW COMMISSION DIRECTOR
    (October 12, 2010)
    The Government of Alberta has appointed Philippe Rabot as director of the Alberta Human Rights Commission. Mr. Rabot's appointment is effective from October 12, 2010 to October 11, 2015. Mr. Rabot brings expert knowledge of labour and administrative law to the Commission, having served on various tribunals in Canada, most recently as Commissioner of the Canada Pension Plan/Old Age Security Act Review Tribunals from 2005 to 2010. Read the Government of Alberta news release. You can read more about the appointment in the October 12, 2010 issue of the Commission newsletter.

    GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA APPOINTS FOUR NEW MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION
    (September 30, 2010) 
    The Government of Alberta has appointed four new members of the Commission: Jennifer Burns, Moosa Y. Jiwaji, Shirley Claire Heafey and William D. McFetridge, each for a term beginning September 30, 2010 and ending June 30, 2013. Read the Government of Alberta news release.

    The new members of the Commission are members of the Alberta legal community who bring expertise in relevant areas of the law, including human rights law, labour law, mediation and arbitration. You can learn more about the new members of the Commission by reading the biographies of the members of the Commission.

    THE COMMISSION HAS UPDATED TWO INTERPRETIVE BULLETINS
    (September 15, 2010)
    The Commission interpretive bulletin Rights and responsibilities related to pregnancy, childbirth and adoption has been updated to reflect the October 2009 amendments to the province's human rights legislation, to clarify content, and to update the case law. The section on medical benefits has been substantially revised. The bulletin is available in a text version and in a printable PDF version.

    The Commission interpretive bulletin Duty to accommodate students with disabilities in post-secondary educational institutions bulletin has been updated to reflect the October 2009 amendments to the province's human rights legislation, to include information about transitory illness, to clarify details about the need for medical information in accommodation, and to update the case law. The bulletin is available in a text version and in a printable PDF version.

    SECTION 11.1 OF THE ALBERTA HUMAN RIGHTS ACT CAME INTO EFFECT ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2010
    (September 1, 2010)
    Section 11.1 of the Alberta Human Rights Act came into effect on
    September 1, 2010. This section of the act requires school boards to provide notice to parents or guardians of students in certain teaching situations involving subject matter that deals primarily and explicitly with religion, human sexuality or sexual orientation. On written request from a parent or guardian, a teacher is required to exclude a student without academic penalty from a teaching situation that deals primarily and explicitly with these subject matters. Section 11.1 does not apply to teaching situations that involve only incidental or indirect references to religion, human sexuality or sexual orientation.

    You can read more about this and other amendments to Alberta's human rights legislation in the Commission publications Amendments to Alberta's human rights legislation and Notice of changes to Alberta's human rights legislation.

    If you have questions about section 11.1, please call the Commission's Calgary office at 403-297-6571. You can call toll-free from Alberta locations outside Calgary by first dialing 310-0000. To access TTY service for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, please call 1-800-232-7215.

    UPDATES TO COMMISSION WEBSITE
    (June 8, 2010)
    The Commission continues to update its website and all of its publications to reflect recent amendments to Alberta's human rights legislation. If there is a revised or reviewed date at the bottom of a website page, this indicates the webpage is current and reflects the recent amendments to the legislation. The following Commission website sections have recently been updated:

    If you would like to be notified when website sections and publications are updated, you can subscribe to Alberta Human Rights Information Service (AHRIS), the Commission's free online newsletter. To subscribe, please send an e-mail titled "AHRIS subscription" to educationcommunityservices@gov.ab.ca and include your e-mail address in the message.

    For more information, see:

    UPDATES TO COMMISSION WEBSITE AND INTERPRETIVE BULLETIN
    (March 4, 2010)
    The Commission is in the process of updating its website and all of its publications to reflect recent amendments to Alberta's human rights legislation. If there is a revised or reviewed date at the bottom of a website page, this indicates the webpage has been updated to reflect the recent amendments to the legislation. The following revisions have recently been completed:

    If you would like to be notified when website sections and publications are updated, you can subscribe to Alberta Human Rights Information Service (AHRIS), the Commission's free online newsletter. To subscribe, please send an e-mail titled "AHRIS subscription" to educationcommunityservices@gov.ab.ca and include your e-mail address in the message.

    For more information, see:

    COMMISSION RELEASES 2008-2009 ANNUAL REVIEW
    (November 6, 2009)
    The Commission has released its 2008-2009 Annual Review.
    Read more about it in the November 6, 2009 issue of the Commission newsletter.

    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. 

    COMMISSION RELEASES NEW PUBLICATIONS
    (October 28, 2009)
    The Commission has launched three new plain language information sheets that complement the Commission's interpretive bulletin Obtaining and responding to medical information in the workplace. Read more in the October 28, 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.

    You can read previous Commission homepage items through the link below:
    Commission news archives 2008

    Revised: December 2, 2011

       

     

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