Yukon ombudsman finds human rights commission responsible for 'unfairness'
CBC
The Yukon's ombudsman says despite trying to meet its mandate, the territory's Human Rights Commission has shown unfairness and bias, and created undue delays.
That's according to a report released by the ombudsman that investigated three separate but similar complaints.
One of the issues discussed in the report was the commission's over-reliance on settlement.
Complainants alleged they were pressured or even harassed to settle, rather than the alternative of raising the issue to an investigation.
"There's a feeling of bias that without any kind of investigation, that the Human Rights Commission considered the complainant's side as factual," said Jason Pedlar, the Yukon ombudsman.
Karen Moir, director of the Human Rights Commission, said the assessment regarding the settlement process was "factually incorrect."
"The Yukon Human Rights Act obliges the commission to seek and settle. That's a function of our act, as well as acts across the country. It's recognized by the human rights practice and by the jurisprudence that early settlement is generally in the public interest," she said.
Moir also opposed the report's claim that the commission acted in a biased manner at any point. While she acknowledged that the commission walks a "fine line" when working with clients unrepresented by legal counsel, she maintained that the commission is impartial by nature.
"The commission by its very mandate is neutral. There's a really, really, really strong culture of neutrality here."
The ombudsman said the commission's preference for settlement stems from its small capacity. Formal investigations take significantly more money, time and resources than the alternative of a settlement.
Moir agreed the commission struggles with a lack of funding. Its 2024 operating budget was $913,000.
"A very small envelope to work with, considering the volume of complaints, the complexity of work, the expenses of things like hearings and legal counsel, travel and the security measures that we have."
The ombudsman report provided five recommendations to the Human Rights Commission, all of which the commission accepted.
"We uphold the values of fairness and transparency and justice like the ombudsman does, and we have no interest in resisting any effort to improve our practices and better serve the public," Moir said.
Hundreds of P.E.I. parents can't find child-care spaces, especially for infants. The provincial government says expanding those spots remains a top priority — and it recognizes the concern.
An Alberta judge says a referendum proposal on Alberta separating from Canada goes against Charter and and Treaty rights, in a decision given less than 24 hours after the provincial government introduced legislation that would have ended the court proceeding.
The architect of Alberta's politician recall legislation says it was never meant to be used as a political weapon, but as an "ultimate tool of accountability" if a politician engages in illegal or unethical behaviour.
The Government of Saskatchewan has introduced its long-promised involuntary treatment legislation on the final day of the fall sitting.
The Law Society of Ontario has suspended the licence of Deepak Paradkar, one of seven Canadians arrested in connection with alleged drug lord Ryan Wedding’s cocaine smuggling ring.
London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) is getting rid of unlimited mental health benefits for staff, blaming ballooning costs and former administrators for implementing it without proper due diligence or oversight.
Netflix has agreed to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's TV and film studios and streaming division for $72 billion US, a deal that would hand control of one of Hollywood's most prized and oldest assets to the streaming pioneer that has upended the media industry.
CBC Calgary kicks off its annual Make the Season Kind campaign this morning at Fratello Coffee Roasters.
CBC Newfoundland and Labrador is kicking off its annual holiday campaign, helping to raise money to support local food banks.
If all goes according to plan, at 6 a.m. AT on Saturday people working at the IWK Health Centre will become the test case for a generational change to Nova Scotia’s health-care system.
One month after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced what he called "generational" military spending, New Brunswick’s defence ecosystem is on high alert.
Miranda Mirlycourtois, 34, looks directly at the camera and makes a confession.
Saskatoon city hall says police spending is projected to be $2.6 million over budget this year. That pushes the city into a $1.2-million deficit position, according to a report that will be considered by city council next week.