New OHRC policy statement explains relationship between Ontario’s Human Rights Code and French-language rights

Toronto – Today, the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) released a new policy statement explaining the relationship between the Ontario Human Rights Code (Code), language-based discrimination and French-language minority rights under other laws.

The statement provides an overview of the:

• Forms of discrimination based on language in association with grounds protected under the Code
• Forms of discrimination experienced by Francophones in relation to the Code, and official language minority rights under the Constitution and other federal and provincial laws
• Legal duty to maintain an environment free from discrimination and harassment, including when language may be a factor associated with Code grounds.

See also: Policy on discrimination and language (1996)

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Media contact:

Vanessa Tamburro
Senior Communications Advisor (Acting)
Ontario Human Rights Commission
416-314-4528 | vanessa.tamburro@ohrc.on.ca