A right to special treatment

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Barbarian-phobic We couldn't resist posting this one! Check out the editorial cartoon by Brian Gable, from the Globe and Mail: Read more

Supreme Court Ruling on Free Speech tomorrow! The Supreme Court of Canada will release the long-awaited decision on the Bill Whatcott case. We reported on that case when it was heard 16 months ago (click here to read up on the case). We will post the results as soon as we know what they are. In the meantime, you are on notice that whatever the decision is, we must work to eliminate t... Read more

But some animals are more equal than others From the National Post: The Ontario Human Rights Tribunal has dismissed a complaint against a women’s studies professor who fought a Catholic volunteerism program at Brock University, saying [the professor's] anti-Catholic comments were offensive, but not akin to discrimination. Although the complainant was treated differently due to his... Read more

Alberta court of appeal dismisses appeal against Boisson The Calgary Sun reports that, after a legal fight lasting nearly 11 years over a letter to the editor, Prof. Darren Lund is disappointed Alberta’s Court of Appeal dismissed his case, allowing “free reign to hate mongers”. Rev. Stephen Boisson is the minister who, after writing and publishing this letter in his local paper was fined and o... Read more

Why Do We Still Have Hate Speech Laws? While not specifically dealing with the Human Rights Commissions, Tribunals and Codes, Andrew Coyne tackles the idea of hate speech laws and why they don't work in a functioning democracy. He makes a number of good points which our provinces should take to heart in evaluating their own human rights codes. Andrew Coyne National Post July ... Read more

Head of Canadian Human Rights Tribunal on Stress Leave The working atmosphere of the CHRT begs the question - if it needs to be investigated for harassment among other things, how can it be in charge of determining "human rights" offenses for the nation? Selection from the Vancouver Sun, April 23 2012: The Ottawa Citizen has also learned that the Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commis... Read more

Did tribunal exceed its authority? Supreme Court of Canada will decide Thursday if human rights decision should be upheld Vancouver Sun, March 21 2012: On Thursday, the Supreme Court of Canada will hear the appeal of Moore v. British Columbia Ministry of Education. Among other things, this case will decide whether the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has the authority to dictate what services the B.C. government provides. Jeffrey Moore started grade school in... Read more

A right to special treatment Pamela Howson clearly knows how the human rights system works. First, claim membership of a “protected” group. In Ontario, their Human Rights Code includes protection on the basis of “family status”, which has been interpreted by the provincial tribunal as granting privileged status to mothers with children. Ms. Howson has three children... Read more

Press Release For Immediate Release – November 23, 2011 (Ottawa, ON): Stand Up For Freedom Canada calls on all members of Parliament to support Bill C-304, “An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act”. Last night, Bill C-304 was read and debated in the House of Commons. The bill, introduced by MP Brian Storseth, seeks to ensure greater protection of free... Read more

Support Bill C-304! Use our Easy Mail Technology Today It only takes a few minutes to use this site's Easy Mail technology to send a letter to your MP, along with the Justice Minister, in support of a much-needed law to reform the Canadian Human Rights Act. It is free, customizable, and you won't get any unwanted newsletter or donation requests. We provide this for the sake of FREEDOM. Click ... Read more

Policing Hurt Feelings The various Canadian human rights codes were not necessarily designed to protect hurt feelings of designated groups. The intention was to prevent a situation in which an person was denied basic goods and services on the basis of some prejudice or another. Yet we hear again and again from editorials critical of the rights racket that... Read more

Non-Muslims Need Not Apply The National Post recently ran a story about housing advertisements in Ontario that are clearly running afoul of the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s policy. Specifically, the reporter was able to find several ads in which it was stated, “non-Muslims need not apply” or some variation thereof. When the reporter called the OHRC to ask abo... Read more

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A right to special treatment

Tuesday, 13 March 2012 06:13

Pamela Howson clearly knows how the human rights system works.

First, claim membership of a “protected” group. In Ontario, their Human Rights Code includes protection on the basis of “family status”, which has been interpreted by the provincial tribunal as granting privileged status to mothers with children. Ms. Howson has three children, so she qualifies.

Second, find a grievance and, by extension, a target. Any grievance will do, but it helps to target the type of individuals or organizations that the province’s Commission is currently scrutinizing for its next wave of human rights education. In this case, the OHRC is waging a campaign against zoning laws in municipalities across the province. Ms. Howson wants to park her car on her front lawn, in contravention to current zoning laws, so it appears to be a match made in human rights heaven.

Finally, generate the only evidence that a human rights tribunal requires: hurt feelings.

“We love our family home,” an emotional Howson said, pausing to regain her composure. Because of the parking problem, they will either have to sell the home or accept a reduced quality of life, she said. “This is a lived burden that is very real for us.”

Howson knows exactly how the system is rigged. After all, she is a former investigator at the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

But if we put bad optics aside, what is really troubling about this complaint is the trend in human rights law to establish special treatment for specific groups. And it has never been more pervasive than under the Code’s provision for family status. For example, most working stiffs get their employment schedule handed to them by management, while working mothers get to pick their own shifts under threat of human rights complaints. Any time you see the word “accommodation”, someone is getting special rights and special treatment.

If you delve into the term, “human rights”, you cannot escape the simple definition that every human being has inherent rights. The antithesis of human rights is group rights, the concept that you have specific rights contingent on your membership in a particular group; and those outside of the group do not have those rights.

Do special circumstances exist? Certainly. It lies first and foremost with the individual, and voluntary societal supports, to address his or her own special circumstances. If one feels that the circumstances warrant special treatment from government, that should be decided on a case-by-case basis by elected representatives, with careful attention to the rights of others. It should not be up to unelected human rights activists to order this or that special treatment as a matter of right.