Deadline extended for employer input on human rights, mental health

OHRC looking into laws, policies, procedures

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has extended its deadline for written submissions to its consultation on human rights and mental health to April 30, 2011.

"What we have heard so far is very impressive," said OHRC chief commissioner Barbara Hall. "We have already received over 1,000 individual responses. I encourage individuals to continue to respond and we hope to see more employers, housing providers and other organizations adding their voices before we move on to the next stage."

Some of the issues the OHRC wants to learn more about are:

• The kind of information employers need to know to help protect the human rights of people with mental health disabilities or addictions.

• The types of discrimination that happen based on mental health disabilities or addictions in the areas of housing, services and employment.

• If there are laws, policies, procedures or systemic practices related to housing, employment or services that disproportionately disadvantage people with mental health issues or addictions.

• What the OHRC and other bodies can do to raise public awareness, prevent and address these human rights issues.

The OHRC will publish a consultation report with recommendations based on what it heard in a province-wide consultation that included round table sessions in four Ontario cities, focus groups, online surveys and written submissions.

Submissions can be sent to the OHRC by mail to: Ontario Human Rights Commission, Human Rights and Mental Health Consultation, Policy, Education, Monitoring and Outreach Branch,180 Dundas St. W.t, 8th Floor, Toronto, ON, M7A 2R9 or by email to: [email protected].

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