JOINT STATEMENT

A strong and democratic Canada depends on human rights
________________________________________________________

June 29, 2026 – Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies (CASHRA)

Together, the heads of Canada’s human rights commissions at the federal, provincial and territorial level issue the following statement:

The start of the summer brings numerous celebrations that provide opportunities to reflect on who we are, the diverse communities we belong to, and the values that bring us together. These shared values and our collective sense of identity matter especially in moments of pressure and uncertainty.

Canada is navigating a period of profound economic and social strain. Global uncertainty, rising income inequality, and a sustained cost-of-living crisis are pushing more people into poverty, food insecurity, and homelessness. At the same time, communities are confronting an increase in hate and intolerance. These intersecting pressures are acutely felt by those who experience systemic barriers and discrimination –for example, Indigenous Peoples, Black and other racialized communities, people with disabilities and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities.Across the country, Canada’s human rights commissions are seeing how economic insecurity, inaccessible systems and discrimination intersect. Rights become fragile when people lack the basic conditions for dignity in their everyday lives.

These realities remind us that rights are defined not only by what is guaranteed in law, but by whether people can meaningfully exercise those rights in their daily lives. Human rights are not abstract ideals reserved for stable times. They are the foundation that sustains democratic societies, especially in moments of pressure and uncertainty.

Human rights are foundational to sustaining democratic societies and the rule of law. Canadians understand this. According to StatsCan’s most recent study on social and democratic values, 86% of Canadians agree that human rights have a social and democratic benefit. Canada’s diversity is about far more than demographics. It reflects a commitment to full, safe, and equal participation, and to a lived reality of belonging.

We must bolster and protect human rights everywhere — in schools, workplaces, housing, health care, public services, places of worship, online spaces, and community life­.

Protecting human rights is a shared responsibility. It requires strong institutions, and it requires each of us to make human rights real in daily life — through how we speak, how we listen, how we challenge discrimination, and how we help make the places we share safer, fairer, and more inclusive.

Canada has an important road ahead. Meeting this moment requires a renewed commitment to the values that define us. By strengthening human rights protections and translating them into real-world outcomes, we can build a stronger Canada — one grounded in dignity, equality, reconciliation, and justice for all.

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Ébauche : Déclaration conjointe

Un Canada fort et démocratique passe par le respect des droits de la personne ______________________________________________________________________________

Le 29 juin 2026 – Ottawa, Ontario – Association canadienne des organismes de défense des droits de la personne (ACCCDP)

Les dirigeants des commissions des droits de la personne du Canada aux niveaux fédéral, provincial et territorial publient conjointement la déclaration suivante :

Le début de l’été est marqué de nombreuses célébrations qui offrent l’occasion de réfléchir à qui nous sommes, aux communautés diverses auxquelles nous appartenons et aux valeurs qui nous unissent. Ces valeurs communes et notre sentiment d’identité collective revêtent une importance particulière dans les moments de tension et d’incertitude.

Le Canada traverse actuellement une période de profondes tensions économiques et sociales. L’incertitude mondiale, l’augmentation des inégalités de revenus et une crise persistante du coût de la vie poussent davantage de personnes vers la pauvreté, l’insécurité alimentaire et l’itinérance. Parallèlement, les communautés sont confrontées à une montée de la haine et de l’intolérance. Ces pressions qui se recoupent sont particulièrement ressenties par celles et ceux qui sont confrontés à des obstacles systémiques et à la discrimination – par exemple les personnes autochtones, noires et autres communautés racisées, les personnes en situation de handicap et les communautés 2ELGBTQIA+.

Partout au pays, les commissions canadiennes des droits de la personne constatent comment l’insécurité économique, l’inaccessibilité des systèmes et la discrimination s’entrecroisent. Les droits deviennent fragiles lorsque les personnes ne disposent pas des conditions fondamentales nécessaires à la dignité dans leur vie quotidienne.

Ces réalités nous rappellent que les droits ne se définissent pas seulement par ce qui est garanti par la loi, mais aussi par la capacité des personnes à exercer ces droits de manière concrète dans leur vie quotidienne. Les droits de la personne ne sont pas des idéaux abstraits réservés aux périodes de stabilité. Ils constituent le fondement sur lequel reposent les sociétés démocratiques, en particulier dans les moments de tension et d’incertitude.

Les droits de la personne constituent le fondement des sociétés démocratiques et de l’État de droit. Les Canadiens et Canadiennes en sont conscients. Selon la dernière étude de Statistique Canada sur les valeurs sociales et démocratiques, 86 % des Canadiens et Canadiennes reconnaissent que les droits de la personne ont un intérêt social et démocratique. La diversité du Canada va bien au-delà des simples données démographiques. Elle reflète un engagement en faveur d’une participation pleine, sûre et égalitaire, ainsi qu’un réel sentiment d’appartenance.

Nous devons renforcer et protéger les droits de la personne partout : dans les écoles, en milieu de travail, dans le logement, les soins de santé, les services publics, les lieux de culte, les espaces en ligne et la vie communautaire.

La protection des droits de la personne est une responsabilité partagée. Elle nécessite des institutions solides et exige de chacun et chacune d’entre nous que nous donnions vie aux droits de la personne dans notre quotidien — par nos paroles, notre écoute, notre lutte contre la discrimination et notre contribution à rendre les lieux que nous partageons plus sûrs, plus justes et plus inclusifs.

Le Canada a un long chemin à parcourir. Pour relever ce défi, nous devons renouveler notre engagement envers les valeurs qui nous définissent. En renforçant la protection des droits de la personne et en la traduisant en résultats concrets, nous pouvons bâtir un Canada plus fort — un Canada fondé sur la dignité, l’égalité, la réconciliation et la justice pour tous et toutes.

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The post Statement from the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies appeared first on Yukon Human Rights Commission.

The post Seeking Expression of Interest – Consultant appeared first on Yukon Human Rights Commission.

Melissa Antony (“Antony”) filed a complaint with the Yukon Human Rights Commission (the “Commission”) against Yukon University (the “University”) on April 20, 2023. Antony alleged she was discriminated against on the basis of sex and family or marital status, when she was terminated from her employment with the University, one day after returning from domestic violence leave.

Antony began her employment at the University in January 2021 eventually working in the First Nations Initiatives department on successive term contracts. During her employment, Antony experienced domestic abuse from her then-husband and eventually separated from him.  Between February 6 to 10, 2023, Antony took domestic violence leave from her employment and returned to work on February 13, 2023.  On February 14, 2023, she received a phone call from her new supervisor, John Reid (“Reid”), who advised her that the university was changing direction and that she should take the remainder of her leave under her contract, which was set to expire on March 31, 2023. Mr. Reid confirmed the conversation in an email the same day.

During the hearing, the University’s Human Resources Director gave evidence that when she discussed the email with Reid, Reid told her that he was aware that Antony had taken leave because of domestic violence and that he thought Antony would want the time off.

At the hearing, the University agreed with the Commission that the Complainant had protected characteristic of sex, on the basis that she was a victim of domestic violence.

The University also agreed with the Commission that Antony’s status as a victim of domestic violence was a factor in how her contract of employment was brought to an end.  However, the University did not agree with the Commission that the University discriminated against Antony when it failed to renew her contract for another term.  

The Yukon Human Rights Board of Adjudication (the “Board”) heard the complaint over four days from April 13 to 17, 2026. The Board, comprised of one member, issued a decision finding discrimination against Antony on the basis of sex. The Board found that:

• Antony had the protected characteristic of sex on the basis of her being a victim of domestic violence. The Board noted that “domestic violence” is not listed as a protected characteristic under the Human Rights Act, but cited evidence from Dr. Jaffe and case law that domestic violence mainly affects women.
• The University discriminated against Antony when it failed to renew her contract. The Board noted that the University offered no justification for the abrupt early termination of Antony’s employment and found that domestic violence was a factor in its failure to renew her contract.  The Board noted that Antony’s contract had been renewed on five previous occasions, that she had “excelled” at her work, that there was work that could be done by her, and that there was funding for that work.  

The Commission relied on expert evidence from domestic violence expert Dr. Peter Jaffe, the Director Emiritus at the Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children.  Dr. Jaffe provided evidence regarding the disproportionate impact of domestic violence on women, the importance of employment to victims of domestic violence, and the different ways in which domestic violence can impact the workplace, including the negative stereotypes faced by victims of domestic violence in the workplace.  Dr. Jaffe also provided extensive evidence on workplace best practices for victims of domestic violence.

With respect to remedies, the Commission argued that Antony be awarded $40,000-45,000 in damages for injury to dignity and self-respect and three to six months of lost wages.  The Board awarded $35,000 in damages for injury to dignity and self-respect, representing the second-highest award for general damages awarded in the jurisdiction.  The Board further awarded $19,738.88 for three months of lost wages for Antony.

In assessing remedies, the Board emphasized the vulnerability of Antony, noting that through no fault of her own, she was abused by her spouse and then found herself discriminated against by the University because of that abuse.  The Board noted that the cumulative effect of the abuse and discrimination on Antony was traumatic.

The decision is significant because it marks the first time in which being a victim of domestic abuse has been considered a potential ground for discrimination, through its   connection to the protected characteristic of sex, under section 7(f) of the Human Rights Act. 

Quick Facts

• Human rights law is designed to be remedial, not punitive. Remedies are designed to restore the complainant to a position as near as possible to the position they would have been in if the discrimination did not occur. They are not intended to punish the respondent. To learn more, visit the Commission’s FAQ on remedies.
• The Yukon Human Rights Panel of Adjudicators (“YHRPA”) — from which a Board of Adjudication is selected to hear complaints —  is separate and independent of the Commission. To learn more, visit the Commission’s webpage on the YHRPA.
• The Commission is neutral until a complaint is before a Board of Adjudication, where they become a separate third party to the complaint. The Commission does not represent complainants or respondents at hearings, but rather the purposes of the Act.
• The Commission refers complaints to the YHRPA where there is a reasonable basis in the evidence to do so. To learn more, visit the Commission’s complaint process webpage, under “Commission Members’ Decision”.
• Pursuant to section 16(d) of the Act, Commission makes every effort to settle files during the complaint process before they are referred to a hearing.
• Section 39 of the Act says that if another Yukon law conflicts with the Act, the Act takes priority — meaning it applies instead of the conflicting law — unless the other law expressly says that it takes priority.

The post Press Release: Decision on Antony v Yukon University appeared first on Yukon Human Rights Commission.

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Event Details:

• Date: Tuesday, December 10, 2024
• Time: 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM (Yukon Standard Time)
• Location: Yukonstruct (2180 2nd Ave, Whitehorse) & Online
• Format: Hybrid (In-person and virtual attendance)
• Cost: Free

A dynamic panel discussion between Toni DeMello and Chris Tse will be moderated by the former Director of the Yukon Human Rights Commission, Birju Dattani. Together, they will explore pressing human rights challenges and discuss pathways for meaningful change.

Registration is required via the following link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0vcuquqz8jHdAEuOgohGMfW72mPxMKtaOF. In-person space is limited. Refreshments will be provided.

To learn more about International Human Rights Day, please visit the campaign webpage: https://www.ohchr.org/en/get-involved/campaign/hrd2024

The post Human Rights Day: Our Future Free from Racism appeared first on Yukon Human Rights Commission.