CASHRA 2008 - Collective Strength: Commissions to Communitites and Back - June 15th - 17th, Niagra Ontario.

Conference Program

Goal: CASHRA 2008 will address ways in which Commissions and Communities can work together to develop a strong human rights culture in Canada. By identifying common goals and methods for cooperative exchange and action, the conference aims to lay a foundation for a more collaborative and interdependent approach to human rights.

Day 2: Monday June 16, 2008

7:30-8:45am
Breakfast: Continental Breakfast will be available at Niagara College

9:00-9:25am: Plenary Session

1. Introduction

Elder Emily Daigneault, Niagara Regional Native Centre
Gary Burroughs, Lord Mayor, Niagara on the Lake
Barbara Hall, Chief Commissioner, Ontario Human Rights Commission
Peter Partington, Regional Chairman, Niagara Regional Council
Gordon Porter, CASHRA President and Chief Commissioner, New Brunswick Human Rights Commission

Objective I: Examining current Commission activities and how they engage Communities

9:30-10:30am : Concurrent Sessions 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d

2a. Expanding grounds of protection enumerated in Human Rights Codes
International human rights bodies criticize Canada over discrimination in areas not protected by existing human rights legislation. This session explores current efforts to expand enumerated grounds and rights protections in areas such as political affiliation, gender identity, and social condition, providing a suitable background to explore Commission efforts in engaging Communities.

Moderator: Myriam Montrat, Canadian Human Rights Commission

Michael Creek, Toronto Speakers Bureau; Voices from the Street
Susan Gapka, Trans Human Rights Campaign
Avvy Go, Metro Toronto Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic
Evadne Macedo, Ontario Human Rights Commission

2b. Systemic change and building human rights cultures
This session explores current initiatives by Commissions to foster human rights systemic change and human rights culture either directly or in partnership with organizations and Communities. This discussion will focus efforts for systemic change efforts in policing and will explore Commission efforts to engage Communities in these change efforts.

Moderator: Marie Riddle, Director, Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission

Dianna Scarth, Manitoba Human Rights Commission
Shaheen Azmi, Ontario Human Rights Commission
André Goh, Toronto Police Service
Margaret Parsons, African Canadian Legal Clinic

2c. Commission and Aboriginal Community Engagement
This session explores whether Commissions are effectively engaging and serving Aboriginal Communities. It will review what efforts have been made to provide Commission services to Aboriginal Communities. Aboriginal spokes persons will comment and provide guidance on opportunities to improve service and engagement.

Moderator: TBA

Cheryl Hebert, Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission
Maurice Switzer, Union of Ontario Indians
Kimberly Murray, Aboriginal Legal Services of Toronto
John C. Hill, Deputy Commissioner, Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission

2d. National Security and Human Rights
This session explores initiatives by Commissions and Communities to work together to address the tension between an expanding national security agenda and respect for human rights. The discussion will focus on the powers of Canadian security and intelligence agencies and their monitoring bodies, an assessment of the Smart Border agreement, and an analysis of profiling as a tool for delivering security.

Moderator: TBA

Dr. Charles Théroux, Canadian Human Rights Commission
Faisal Kutty, Kutty, Syed & Mohamed Law
TBA

10:30-10:45am: Break

10:45-11:15am: Plenary Session

3. Review of objective I: Concurrent sessions are briefly reviewed and a guest presenter directly speaks to the objective

François Larsen, Ontario Human Rights Commission
Dr. Grace-Edwards Galabuzi, Ryerson University

11:15-12:00: Plenary Session

4. Celebratory Launch of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights 60th Anniversary Initiative
In celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies (CASHRA) in conjunction with TakingITGlobal and the John Humphrey Centre will officially launch a web-based Youth Engagement Initiative.

12:00-1:00pm: Lunch

Objective II: Exploring Community methods to promote human rights and how they engage Human Rights Commissions in this work

1:00-2:00pm: Concurrent Sessions 5a, 5b, 5c and 5d

5a. Mental health and Human Rights
This session explores efforts to advance the state of human rights of individuals with mental health disabilities by focusing on Community group advocacy initiatives. It focuses on obstacles such Communities face in employing existing human rights systems and to involve Commissions in responding to this issue.

Moderator: Krista Daley, Director and CEO, Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission

The Dream Team
Claire Bernard, Quebec - Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse
Holly Rasky, Mental Health Commission of Canada

5b. Efforts to build inclusive schools
This session explores efforts by a broad spectrum of Communities to foster more inclusive schools. Elements of education discussed will include teacher training focused on human right, hidden and formal curriculum, and school social environment.

Moderator:Janice Gairey, Ontario Federation of Labour

Julian Falconer, Falconer Charney Legal Law Practice
Helen Kennedy, EGALE
Nadeem Memon, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto
Daniel Ducharme, Quebec - Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeuness

5c. Human rights for Aboriginals: Is repealing Section 67 of the Canadian Human Rights Act the solution?
Section 67 of the Canadian Human Rights Act restricts the ability of First Nations people living on reserve to file a complaint against band councils or the federal government. This session explores current efforts to repealing Section 67 and the diverse perspectives on the issue and asks, is repealing Section 67 the solution and if not, then where do we go from here?

Moderator: TBA

Beverly Jacobs, Native Women’s Association of Canada
TBA, Congress of Aboriginal People
Maurice Switzer, Union of Ontario Indians
Sherri Helgason, National Aboriginal Initiative, Canadian Human Rights Commission

5d. Housing as a Human Right
This session explores gaps between international human rights requirements for housing and current Canadian human rights protections by focusing on community efforts to provide immediate solutions and advocate for structural change. It will also explore what role Commissions are or should be playing in advancing housing rights and to support Community efforts.

Moderator: Yolande Richard, PEI Human rights Commission

John Fraser, The Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA)
Michael Shapcott, Wellesley Institute
Rev. Brian Burch, St. Claires Multifaith Housing Society
Brigitte Witkowski, Co-founder, HomeComing Community Choice Coalition
Evadne Macedo, Ontario Human Rights Commission

2:15-2:45pm: Plenary

6. Review of Objective II: Concurrent sessions are briefly reviewed and a guest presenter directly speaks to the objective

Pearl Eliadis, Human Rights Lawyer
Dave Sangha, University of Northern British Columbia

2:45-3:00pm: Break

3:00-3:15: Plenary

7. Secretary of Cabinet

Last December, the Ontario Public Service launched the framework for its strategic plan on diversity. Through this strategy, the OPS has been - and will continue to - build a stronger, more diverse and inclusive organization at all levels. Hear Ontario's Secretary of the Cabinet, Shelly Jamieson, discuss how the OPS is making progress on its strategy and moving forward aggressively to become a leader in diversity.

Shelly Jamieson, Secretary of Cabinet, Head of the Ontario Public Service

3:15-3:25: Plenary Session

8. Plenary CHRC Announcement

3:25-4:30: Plenary Session

9. The role of Commissions in addressing Human rights concerns around the media
This session explores the role of commissions in addressing human rights concerns such as racism in the media. This session also looks at media perspectives about commission activity that are perceived to impinge on freedom of the press.

Moderator: TBA

Pearl Eliadis, Human Rights Lawyer
Wahida Valiante, Canadian Islamic Congress
Alan Borovoy, Canadian Civil Liberties Association
Mel Sufrin, Executive Secretary, Ontario Press Council

5:30-6:30pm: Evening shuttle to Reception

6:30-7:00pm: Reception

7:00-9:00pm: Celebratory dinner/Guest speaker

Alex Neve, Secretary General, Amnesty International Canada

9:00-10:00pm: Return shuttle