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Discrimination Media Release

B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner will audit the implementation of settlement agreement between Vancouver Police Board…

Vancouver, B.C. – On Dec. 20, 2019, Maxwell Johnson and his granddaughter went to the Bank of Montreal (BMO) branch on Burrard Street in Vancouver and tried to open a bank account. After looking at the pair's identification documents, including their government-issued Indian status cards, BMO staff called 911 to report…

September 28, 2022
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Discrimination Media Release

Human rights of the unhoused must be respected when removing tent city encampment

Vancouver – B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner has sent a letter to the province’s housing minister and the Mayor of Vancouver, urging them to respect human rights when removing homeless encampments on city streets. A copy of the letter is available here. “The eviction of people and dismantling of their homes…

August 9, 2022
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Discrimination Media Release

Commissioner’s statement on recent assaults on homeless people

Vancouver - In response to a spate of incidents of violence that had devastating impacts on unhoused people across Vancouver and the Lower Mainland, the commissioner issued the following statement: “Last week's violence is a stark reminder of the devastating impacts of hate and violence on those most marginalized by…

August 3, 2022
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Detention

Commissioner commends B.C. government for ending unjust treatment of innocent migrants

Vancouver B.C. – B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender commends the provincial government for cancelling its agreement with Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA,) and ending the detention of migrants in provincial jails. “Migrants will no longer be put in B.C. jails simply for administrative reasons like missing documentation, once this…

July 21, 2022
Hate & racism

Fighting hate requires new strategies: B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner

Survey finds 72% never reported hate incidents to anyone Vancouver B.C. – An overwhelming number of people who participated in a public survey for the Inquiry into hate in the pandemic say they never reported the hate incidents they experienced to anyone – not the police, a manager, human resources,…

June 8, 2022
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Discrimination Story

Advisory: Housing and your human rights – renter alert

Everyone has the right to be free from discrimination when renting an apartment, house, co-op unit, or other space. BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner is holding a free, virtual session to help people understand the B.C. Human Rights Code and how it can help identify discrimination. The session…

May 17, 2022
Hate & racism

Never Accept Hate campaign launches

Vancouver based organizations and companies join together to combat rising acts of hate.   The NAH Collective announced today the official launch of the “Never Accept Hate (NAH)” campaign to combat rising incidents of hate in British Columbia. The campaign, including community calls to action, is a grass-roots initiative to…

April 26, 2022
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Discrimination Media Release

Commissioner calls on Province to end ‘cruel and unjust’ incarceration of migrants

Vancouver B.C. – B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner says detaining migrants in jails for immigration issues is cruel, unjust and violates human rights commitments. “People held under immigration law have committed no crime, and it is wrong that we treat them as if they have,” said Commissioner Kasari Govender. “I am…

April 4, 2022
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Discrimination Media Release

Commissioner urges Public Health Officer to maintain mask mandates

Vancouver B.C. – Many students across B.C. returned to school this week amid a pandemic that has not ended, but without the protection offered by mask mandates. On March 16, 2022, B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner urged the Public Health Officer (PHO) to maintain the mask mandate to ensure protection for…

March 28, 2022
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Discrimination Media Release

Release: Letter to the Public Health Officer on the ending of the mask mandate

Vancouver B.C. – BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner issued a letter to the Public Health Officer on the end of B.C.’s mask mandate on March 16, 2022. In that letter, B.C.'s Human Rights Commissioner highlighted the inequitable impacts of ending the mask mandate and urged for the Public…

March 28, 2022
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Discrimination Media Release

B.C. Supreme Court decision on family status a disappointing outcome for gender equality in B.C.

Vancouver B.C. – B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner said a B.C. Supreme Court decision on family status impedes gender equality in the workplace. B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner was an intervenor in Gibraltar Mines Ltd. v. Harvey and saw it as a key test of B.C.’s Human Rights Code’s protection against discrimination…

March 15, 2022
Hate & racism

Hundreds speak out against hate as Inquiry reaches mid-point for public participation

Vancouver B.C. – More than 1700 people who either witnessed or directly experienced a hate incident have participated in an online survey for the Inquiry into hate during the pandemic. British Columbians are sharing stories about being assaulted, verbally abused, threatened online and accosted in grocery stores. People report experiencing…

February 24, 2022