As of August 1, 2022, bakerlaw has joined forces with Ross & McBride LLP.
Our team is excited to become part of the formidable group of human rights, employment, and constitutional lawyers at Ross & McBride. Our current and future clients will continue to receive the personalized, high-quality representation that has become synonymous with bakerlaw, and will benefit from the collaborative, cross-functional approach to complex issues that both we and Ross & McBride value. With the added resources of larger, full-service firm, this collaboration will allow us to take on new clients for the first time since October 2021. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact us at contact@rossmcbride.com
The content on this page is no longer being updated here. For news and updated content you can find it on the Ross & McBride News page.
Sexual Assault Prevention Month 2022
- May 24, 2022
- Mariah Campbell
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Content warning: Sexual assault and harassment
May is Sexual Assault Prevention Month (link) in Ontario and across Canada (link). Formerly referred to as Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the name was changed in recent years to signify that awareness alone is not enough; to effectively support survivors, action is key. » Read the rest
Human Rights Day 2021
- December 10, 2021
- BakerLaw
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Today marks the 73rd annual Human Rights Day, which celebrates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) (link) as put forth by the United Nations in 1948.
This year’s theme for the celebration is “EQUALITY – Reducing inequalities, advancing human rights”, which relates to Article 1 of the UDHR – “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” » Read the rest
Charter challenge claims CERB and CRB discriminated against people with disabilities
- December 7, 2021
- Daniel Mulroy
- Comments Off on Charter challenge claims CERB and CRB discriminated against people with disabilities
On November 26, 2021, the Toronto Star published the article “CERB and CRB discriminated against Canadians with disabilities, new Charter challenge claims” (link). This article outlines the Charter challenge Ms. Valerie Jacob has launched, with the assistance of bakerlaw, claiming that the Canada Emergency Relief Benefit (“CERB”) and the Canada Recovery Benefit (“CRB”) discriminated against her, as a worker with disabilities. » Read the rest
Ontario proposes a bill that would benefit foreign-trained professionals
- October 27, 2021
- BakerLaw
- Comments Off on Ontario proposes a bill that would benefit foreign-trained professionals
The Ontario government announced its intention to propose legislation that, if passed, would make it easier for foreign-trained professionals and tradespeople to work in their respective fields by removing some barriers that internationally-trained immigrants face. For example, such changes would include the removal of the requirement for Canadian work experience, in certain regulated professions and trades. » Read the rest
Lawsuit alleges a disabled inmate forced to sleep on the floor for 21 days
- October 4, 2021
- Daniel Mulroy
- Comments Off on Lawsuit alleges a disabled inmate forced to sleep on the floor for 21 days
Kitten Keyes is an inmate at the Grand Valley Institution for Women in Kitchener, Ontario. Keyes is a person with disabilities who uses a wheelchair and states that she was forced to sleep on the floor of her cell for 21 straight days because her cell was not accessible. » Read the rest
Peel Police and the Ontario Human Rights Commission partner to address systemic racism and discrimination
- September 23, 2021
- Daniel Mulroy
- Comments Off on Peel Police and the Ontario Human Rights Commission partner to address systemic racism and discrimination
In October 2020 the Peel Regional Police, the Peel Police Services Board and the Ontario Human Rights Commission (“OHRC”) signed a memorandum of understanding committing to work together to address systemic racism in the force.
The memorandum comes as Multiple concerns around systemic racism in the Peel police force have recently come to light. » Read the rest
Issues with Artificial Intelligence: The Need for Regulation
- July 6, 2021
- Daniel Mulroy
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The Law Commission of Ontario (LCO) has initiated a multiyear, multidisciplinary project to research the development, and impact of artificial intelligence (AI), automated decision-making (ADM) and algorithms on access to justice, human rights, and due process.
A recent publication from the LCO, Regulating AI: Critical Issues and Choices (link), discusses the issues that arise from the use of AI and ADM, and calls for significant regulatory reform in Ontario. » Read the rest
Ableism in the Medical Profession
- May 10, 2021
- BakerLaw
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In a recent article, BBC News has reported on the discriminatory treatment experienced by disabled medical students in the pursuit of accommodations for their disability-related needs. Referred to as “ableism,” perceptions within professional circles of medical students and professionals with disabilities as inferior and less competent has resulted in many not getting the accommodations that they need. » Read the rest
Tribunal Confirms the test for Family status discrimination is no different than for other grounds of discrimination
- March 30, 2021
- Anoop Kalsi
- Comments Off on Tribunal Confirms the test for Family status discrimination is no different than for other grounds of discrimination
Family status discrimination has been a hot issue at the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal, particularly because the test for family status discrimination may not have been as clear as some would hope. Much of the confusion arises as to whether the Federal Court of Appeal decision in Canada (Attorney General) v. » Read the rest
Can Artificial Intelligence Discriminate?
- February 1, 2021
- Kimberly Srivastava
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Can Artificial Intelligence Discriminate? In short, the answer is yes.
Dr. Jutta Treviranus, Director and Founder of the Inclusive Design Research Centre and the Inclusive Design Institute outlines what’s at stake. In this slide show (link), she identifies three areas of discrimination. » Read the rest