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Ford government faces legal challenge over failure to provide vaccine equity

• March 16, 2021
• BakerLaw
• Comments Off on Ford government faces legal challenge over failure to provide vaccine equity

 Ford government faces legal challenge over failure to provide vaccine equity

Community advocates warn some members of vulnerable populations will be at greater risk of death from COVID-19 without urgent change of course

Toronto, March 16, 2021 – Concern that Ontarians most at risk of attracting the COVID-19 virus will not receive fair access to the vaccine is prompting a legal challenge to the Doug Ford government. » Read the rest

The Ontario Government’s 2021 Triage Policy

• March 11, 2021
• Khalid Mahdi
• Comments Off on The Ontario Government’s 2021 Triage Policy

With the second-wave of the COVID-19 pandemic placing an increased strain on hospitals across Canada, the provincial government earlier this year released a highly controversial triage policy aimed at helping the healthcare system adapt (link). The triage policy works by assessing and placing patients in a colour-coded framework based on their risk of short-term mortality, which is defined as “survival beyond 12 months after the onset of critical illness.” » Read the rest

Keeping Seniors at Home Amid COVID-19

• March 2, 2021
• BakerLaw
• Comments Off on Keeping Seniors at Home Amid COVID-19

CBC News highlights the role of Ontario’s rapidly growing Supports at Home Program (link), which was announced by the Ford government in December 2020. The program allows Seniors with significant needs, who would otherwise be sent to a nursing home, to receive the support that they need at home. » Read the rest

CWDO Urges Canada to Send Bill C-7 to the Court

• February 23, 2021
• BakerLaw
• Comments Off on CWDO Urges Canada to Send Bill C-7 to the Court

Bakerlaw has been retained by Citizens with Disabilities – Ontario (link) to  advise on its efforts to have Bill C-7 [MAiD 2] referred to the Supreme Court or a provincial court of appeal. In the event of a reference, bakerlaw has been retained by the CWDO to represent it as an intervener. » Read the rest

BC Human Rights Tribunal makes historic damages award to victim of racial harassment – but leaves him to swallow high legal costs

• February 8, 2021
• Laura Lepine
• Comments Off on BC Human Rights Tribunal makes historic damages award to victim of racial harassment – but leaves him to swallow high legal costs

On January 28, 2021, the BC Human Rights Tribunal awarded a former corrections officer nearly $1 million in damages for the racial discrimination he experienced in the workplace.

The decision marks the highest general damages award from the BC Tribunal. It comes just over 1.5 years after the Tribunal found that Levan Francis, a Black man, experienced discrimination in employment on the grounds of race and colour, as well as retaliation. » Read the rest

Postsecondary students cannot be asked about their sexual history when reporting sexual violence or harassment

• January 28, 2021
• Anoop Kalsi
• Comments Off on Postsecondary students cannot be asked about their sexual history when reporting sexual violence or harassment

On January 27, 2021, the Ontario Government announced it will be moving to amend current regulations regarding Sexual violence and harassment policies as postsecondary institutions. The government has recognized that many instances of sexual violence and harassment on and around campus go unreported because students fear reprisal and/or a concern that they will not be taken seriously. » Read the rest

Provincial government provides $7.5M for Geneva Centre training for educators

• January 20, 2021
• Amanda Dimilta
• Comments Off on Provincial government provides $7.5M for Geneva Centre training for educators

On January 10, 2021, Ontario announced a $7.5 million investment to “train our education staff to better support students on the autism spectrum and to foster a culture of respect, inclusion and opportunity in our schools”. The training will begin this year. » Read the rest

University of Waterloo Discriminated in its Admissions Decision, Court of Appeal Upholds

• January 11, 2021
• Laura Lepine
• Comments Off on University of Waterloo Discriminated in its Admissions Decision, Court of Appeal Upholds

The Ontario Court of Appeal has upheld a decision recognizing that students with disabilities are entitled to substantive accommodation when applying to university.

This decision confirms that university admission processes are not exempt from human rights obligations: where admissions standards adversely impact students with disabilities, universities must accommodate those students, or show that it would be an undue hardship to do so. » Read the rest

Jasmin Simpson Wins: Court Holds Student Loans Programs Violated Her Charter rights

• December 17, 2020
• Laura Lepine
• Comments Off on Jasmin Simpson Wins: Court Holds Student Loans Programs Violated Her Charter rights

It took nearly two decades for Jasmin Simpson to get her day in court. It took only two months from the end of submissions for the Court to rule in her favour.

On October 26, 2020, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice held that Ms. » Read the rest

Jodhan v Canada – 10 Years Later

• November 30, 2020
• Khalid Mahdi
• Comments Off on Jodhan v Canada – 10 Years Later

Yesterday marked the 10-year anniversary of the 2010 Federal Court of Canada’s decision, Jodhan v Canada, 2010 FC 1197. The Court held that the inaccessibility of public-facing government websites offended section 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms as they were inaccessible to Canadians with vision disabilities. » Read the rest