The provincial government plans to introduce human rights legislation that will dissolve the Saskatchewan Human Rights Tribunal in favour of having a court hear the complaints.
Justice Minister Don Morgan said the change, among other reforms to the Human Rights Code, is being undertaken at the suggestion of Judge David Arnot, chief commissioner of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission. The commission is the body that receives human rights complaints and occasionally refers a matter to a tribunal for a hearing.
“There seemed to be a lot of support for going forward with it so we felt it was an appropriate piece of legislation to bring at this time,” said Morgan, whose Sask. Party government signalled its intent in the throne speech to move forward with changes, which were first discussed in the spring.
“It will allow for a more streamlined process, more mediation and more expedited handling of files. But the most significant thing is it will no longer be the human rights tribunal. The complaints, when they’re referred on, will go directly to the Court of Queen’s Bench,” Morgan said.
The only problem with Saskatchewan now is that it’s really cold there, and Kate McMillan’s beloved Roughriders aren’t doing too well right now.
UPDATE: Here is a quick introduction to the Human Rights Commissions and Human Rights Tribunals.
That’s Ezra Levant, a Jewish conservative who is the King of free speech in Canada.
This is another of those Human Rights Commission trials I am always telling you guys about. There is no free speech in Canada. Everything you say, no matter how innocent, can land you in a courtroom. The only thing that is necessary is for someone to feel offended by what you said. No damage is needed, just that someone feels offended. Then you go to court, and the government pays for all the court costs of the plaintiff. You have to pay your own costs, of course, and the trials go on for years – much like the waiting list for a hip replacement surgery in Ontario.
WINTERY KNIGHT 