Latest Headlines

Mask Exemptions Must Be Respected, Disability Advocates Say

Failure to allow exemptions under mandatory mask order constitutes human rights discrimination, city’s accessibility committee says. Ian Kaufman
March 26, 2021

THUNDER BAY Disability advocates are warning local businesses that failure to respect exemptions to mandatory mask policies constitutes discrimination under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

The City of Thunder Bay’s Accessibility Advisory Committee recently raised concerns that at least one business had posted a sign refusing entry to anyone not wearing a mask, “stating that persons unable to wear masks into the business are required to order purchases online.”

Mask Exemptions Must Be Respected, Disability Advocates Say. Read full article.

Providing Closed Captioning on Council Meetings too Costly, Suggests Town Staff

Author of the article: Kathleen Smith
Publishing date: Mar 25, 2021

If an Ontario-based organization uses online video, it must be made accessible. For a video to be fully accessible to individuals with disabilities, it must have closed captioning for deaf or hard-of-hearing viewers and video description for blind or low-vision users.

“For that video, for us to post it now, it’s required to have all this for people with disabilities,” said Coun. Trevor Bazinet during the March 22 virtual council meeting.

Providing Closed Captioning on Council Meetings too Costly, Suggests Town Staff. Read full article.

Path Forward Should Be Barrier-Free: Strides in Accessibility a Community Effort

20 years ago, Collingwood formed an advisory committee to help break down barriers and make the town a more accessible place for all By: Maddie Johnson
March 25, 2021

A few decades ago, someone requiring the use of a wheelchair might have been met with closed doors or an impassable sidewalk.

Path Forward Should Be Barrier-Free: Strides in Accessibility a Community Effort. Read full article.

Lessening the Disadvantages of Discrimination

The Ontario Human Rights Code (the Code) protects people from discrimination on the basis of disability. Under the Code, workplaces, landlords, and other services must not discriminate on the basis of disability. In other words, all people must have equal opportunities to benefit from employment, housing, and other services. However, the Code allows organizations to provide more opportunities for protected groups. These opportunities in work, housing, or service lessen the disadvantages of discrimination that people may experience.

Lessening the Disadvantages of Discrimination. Read full article.

Intersectional Discrimination

The Ontario Human Rights Code (the Code) protects people from discrimination on the basis of disability. In addition, the Code recognizes that people may belong to more than one group that the Code protects. As a result, they may experience intersectional discrimination, or discrimination on the basis of multiple aspects of their identities.

Intersectional Discrimination. Read full article.