Bill 160, An Act to amend the Saskachewan Human Rights Code

One of the key issues we are dealing with right now is Bill 160.  The Bill proposes doing away with human rights tribunals in favor of referring directly to courts, although SHRC would continue to have a "gate-keeping" function about what gets referred.  The Bill also proposes that much more use of "mediation" to settle complaints.  Since disability related complains represent about half of all complaints handled by SHRC this is a critical issue for people with disabilities. 

There seems to be a general concensu that there are real problems with the current system although there may be disagrement about why (i.e. budget or adminstration etc.).  However, concerns exist that the changes propossed in the Bill will bring about improvements?  IDEA would like to see a real debate about Bill 160 and a discussion about how the Bill might be improved and individuals rights and dignity protected.  We are currently trying to organize a forum for Febuary to debate Bill 160.

The following are articles and papers that relate to this topic:

Saskatchewan Marches to a Different, Distant Drummer - Professor Ken Norman from the U of S is a former Chief Commissioner of SHRC

Human rights: we can be a leader - By David Arnot, Special to The Leader-Post December 16, 2010

Access to Justice, Mediation: Panacea or Pariah?

The Honourable Warren K. Winkler Chief Justice of Ontario

From the Manitoba Human Rights Commission

COMPLAINT PROCESS

Under Cover Lawyer

SASKATCHEWAN HUMAN RIGHTS CODE

B I L L - No. 160