Rights: Bill and Rights Protection

rights: Chances are this bill will pass with all parties' support, given a similar law has already been adopted in B.C. In the meantime, another private member's bill that will extend human rights protection to a far greater number of Ontarians may die on order paper, unless it receives the provincial government's support, according to Toronto Star. Liberal MPP Nathalie Des Rosiers has tabled Bill 164 calling for the extension of human rights protection against discrimination in Ontario to the poor, people with precarious immigration status, and people with police records. The Bill echoes a policy paper issued last year by the Ontario Human Rights Commission on gender-specific dress codes, urging employers not to force their employees to wear high heels, short skirts and low-cut tops. The Bill also proposes to add genetic characteristics as another prohibitive ground of discrimination to the Human Rights Code. This will apply whether these individuals are looking for work, finding a place to live, or seeking services. If passed, discriminating against someone on the basis of their genetics, immigration status, social condition and police records would be a violation of their rights in Ontario. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.