On May 30, 2002, the Government of British Columbia tabled Bill 53, which, if passed will amend the current Human Rights Code. The implications of this bill are extremely serious for the administration and protection of human rights in the province, and for all residents who may need protection from discrimination in the future.
The Government proposes to abolish the B. C. Human Rights Commission, and to institute a “direct access” model, which will, it claims, provide better access to hearings before the B. C. Human Rights Tribunal, and a faster and more efficient complaint handling process. How should the B. C. community react to these proposals?
Rolling Back Human Rights in B.C.: An Analysis of Bill 53 (September 2002) (PDF)