Vancouver, B.C. – Today, B.C.'s Human Rights Commissioner intervened in a case before the BC Human Rights Tribunal (BCHRT) involving allegations of hate speech and discriminatory speech published on the internet. The Commissioner is arguing that the BCHRT has jurisdiction over hate and discriminatory speech published online. The case, British…
July 4, 2024
In reaction to protest encampments arising on B.C. campuses, B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender has issued the following statement: As protest encampments spring up on campuses across B.C. and Canada, I remain concerned about those who speak up in solidarity with Gaza being penalized. As I have said before,…
May 6, 2024
Vancouver, B.C. – B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner, Kasari Govender, is welcoming the B.C. government’s introduction of anti-racism legislation today. The Anti-Racism Act (ARA) was tabled in the B.C. Legislature this afternoon, following extensive consultation with Commissioner Govender’s Office. The ARA builds on the Anti-Racism Data Act (ARDA), which was implemented…
April 11, 2024
Vancouver, B.C. – What is the state of human rights in B.C.? That is the question B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner has been seeking to answer through her Office’s multi-year Baseline Project, which today released a series of Community Briefs. The Briefs provide a snapshot of human rights issues in four…
April 10, 2024
In response to news of surging incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia here in B.C., Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender issued the following statement: In these dark times, I know I share the heaviness in my heart with many across B.C. and around the world. The devastating events in Israel and…
November 6, 2023
In response to news of hate-fuelled marches planned in cities and towns across B.C. for Sept. 20, 2023, Commissioner Kasari Govender issued the following statement: I am very disturbed by news of hate fuelled marches planned for Sept. 20, 2023, in several places across B.C. The right to peaceful demonstration…
September 19, 2023
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
You love being a park ranger and spending so much time outdoors. You and your team spend a lot of time together driving and hiking to survey remote areas of parks. On several trips this…
January 30, 2022