Disability continues to be at the heart of most human rights complaints in the Northwest Territories, according to the NWT Human Rights CommissionSA国际影视传媒檚 most recent annual report.
Representatives of the tribunal briefed the Legislative AssemblySA国际影视传媒檚 Standing Committee on Government Operations on their 2020-21 report on April 26.
From April 2020 to March 2021, the office of the executive director of the Commission received 30 new complaints; Of these, 18 SA国际影视传媒� or 60 per cent SA国际影视传媒� were related to disabilities. The next most common grounds for complaints were sex, with nine, and race, age, and ethnic origin, which had five each.
One of the biggest barriers to accessibility, is the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 building code, said the CommissionSA国际影视传媒檚 chair, Charles Dent. The current National Standard of Canada for accessible building design includes protocols for making facilities accessible to those with physical and other disabilities. Dent said the standards in the National Building Code, which the NWT uses, arenSA国际影视传媒檛 as strong.
SA国际影视传媒淚f you only use the building code, youSA国际影视传媒檙e going to wind up with a situation where, the day you open your building SA国际影视传媒� we canSA国际影视传媒檛 say this would happen for sure, but it is possible SA国际影视传媒� that someone might face a situation where they might feel they are unable to get into that washroom and use it properly,SA国际影视传媒� said Dent.
Despite these challenges, Dent was optimistic: SA国际影视传媒淚 believe weSA国际影视传媒檝e already become one of the fairest and most accessible systems in Canada,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲hen we finish implementing the changes, we will provide an enviable example for other jurisdictions.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淎 major problemSA国际影视传媒� that reserves are outside the CommissionSA国际影视传媒檚 jurisdiction
Thebacha MLA Frieda Martselos pointed out that the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 two reserves, including Salt River, are outside the jurisdiction of the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 human rights commission. SA国际影视传媒淎s the former chief of Salt River, that is a major problem,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭he people that do the adjudication from another jurisdiction, whether it be Ottawa or whatever, do not know the circumstances at the reserve or know the people, and that could be a big barrier.SA国际影视传媒�
the Tribunal will still work with complainants from reserves who come to them, even if itSA国际影视传媒檚 only to assist them in filing a complaint with the federal tribunal. SA国际影视传媒淚f they come to us, weSA国际影视传媒檙e happy to work with them,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Martselos said complaints still ought to be adjudicated at the territorial level; She said she knew of some cases where complainants were turned away from the territorial commission and told to lodge their complaints at the federal level.
Dent acknowledged that the local, territorial and federal governments would all have to be in agreement for the territorial commission to take on a complaint outside its jurisdiction. SA国际影视传媒淏ut if the three governments can agree on jurisdiction, then thatSA国际影视传媒檚 something we have a right to take on.SA国际影视传媒�
Balance between human rights and health mandates in constant flux
Frame Lake MLA Kevin OSA国际影视传媒橰eilly asked what legal decisions hade been made on the intersection of human rights and vaccine mandates across Canada.
SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 think itSA国际影视传媒檚 played out; I think itSA国际影视传媒檚 playing out,SA国际影视传媒� said Dent.
He stressed that mandates and other related measures need to be constantly revisited, whether they are implemented by governments or corporations.
However, SA国际影视传媒渢o date the legal decisions have supported the decision that we took during the peak of the pandemic.SA国际影视传媒�
