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By-laws must follow Human Rights Code – OHRC
“Using by-laws to keep some people out of neighbourhoods is wrong,” said Ontario Human Rights Commissioner Barbara Hall.
Commissioner Hall was commenting on the January 14th Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) made ruling that stated “municipalities – and this Board – are bound by the [Human Rights] Code”. The ruling required the City of Kitchener to redraft two by-laws that stopped new non-profit and supportive housing from being built in the Cedar Hill neighbourhood in downtown Kitchener.
“The OMB said the City of Kitchener did not look at the impacts of their actions when it decided to pass these bylaws,” said OHRC Chief Commissioner Barbara Hall. “People with disabilities or on social assistance were the targets; they were told, in effect ‘we don’t want more people like you in this neighbourhood’. The Human Rights Code says you can’t discriminate like that”.
“Using bylaws to keep some people out of neighbourhoods is wrong; zoning is for buildings, not for people”, said Barbara Hall. “Municipalities should be working to improve accessibility for people with disabilities – not making it harder for them to find places to live.”
The Human Rights Code says you can’t discriminate like that”.
“Using bylaws to keep some people out of neighbourhoods is wrong; zoning is for buildings, not for people”, said Barbara Hall. “Municipalities should be working to improve accessibility for people with disabilities – not making it harder for them to find places to live.”
