PART III -- THE ONTARIO HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

Commission continued

27. (1) The Ontario Human Rights Commission is continued and shall be composed of such persons, being not fewer than seven, as are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Responsible to Minister

(2) The Commission is responsible to the Minister for the administration of this Act.

Chairman

(3) The Lieutenant Governor in Council shall designate a member of the Commission as Chair, and a member as Vice-Chair.

Remuneration

(4) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may fix the remuneration and allowance for expenses of the Chair, Vice-Chair and members of the Commission.

Staff

(5) The employees of the Commission shall be appointed under the Public Service Act. R.S.O. 1980, c.418

Divisions

(6) The Commission may authorize any function of the Commission to be performed by a division of the Commission composed of at least three members of the Commission. [1981, c.53, s.26.]

Race relations division

28. (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council shall designate at least three members of the Commission to constitute a race relations division of the Commission and shall designate one member of the race relations division as Commissioner for Race Relations.

Functions

(2) It is the function of the race relations division of the Commission to perform any of the functions of the Commission under clause 29 (f), (g) or (h) relating to race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin or creed that are referred to it by the Commission and any other function referred to it by the Commission. [1981, c.53, s.27.]

Function of Commission

29. It is the function of the Commission,

(a) to forward the policy that the dignity and worth of every person be recognized and that equal rights and opportunities be provided without discrimination that is contrary to law;

(b) to promote an understanding and acceptance of and compliance with this Act;

(c) to recommend for consideration a special plan or program designed to meet the requirements of subsection 14(1), subject to the right of a person aggrieved by the implementation of the plan or program to request the Commission to reconsider its recommendation and section 36 applies with necessary modifications;

(d) to develop and conduct programs of public information and education and undertake, direct and encourage research designed to eliminate discriminatory practices that infringe rights under this Act;

(e) to examine and review any statute or regulation, and any program or policy made by or under a statute and make recommendations on any provision, program or policy, that in its opinion is inconsistent with the intent of this Act;

(f) to inquire into incidents of and conditions leading or tending to lead to tension or conflict based upon identification by a prohibited ground of discrimination and take appropriate action to eliminate the source of tension or conflict;

(g) to initiate investigations into problems based upon identification by a prohibited ground of discrimination that may arise in a community, and encourage and co-ordinate plans, programs and activities to reduce or prevent such problems;

(h) to promote, assist and encourage public, municipal or private agencies, organizations, groups or persons to engage in programs to alleviate tensions and conflicts based upon identification by a prohibited ground of discrimination;

(i) to enforce this Act and orders of boards of inquiry; and

(j) to perform the functions assigned to it by this or any other Act. [1981, c.53, s.28.]

Evidence obtained in course of investigation

30. (1) No person who is a member of the Commission shall be required to give testimony in a civil suit or any proceeding as to information obtained in the course of an investigation under this Act.

Idem

(2) No person who is employed in the administration of this Act shall be required to give testimony in a civil suit or any proceeding other than a proceeding under this Act as to information obtained in the course of an investigation under this Act. [1981, c.53, s.29.]

Annual report

31. (1) The Commission shall make a report to the Minister not later than the 30th day of June in each year upon the affairs of the Commission during the year ending on the 31st day of March of that year.

Idem

(2) The Minister shall submit the report to the Lieutenant Governor in Council who shall cause the report to be laid before the Assembly if it is in session, or, if not, at the next ensuing session. [1981, c.53, s.30.]