Saskatchewan Government May Shut Down Human Rights Tribunal - April 19, 2010

Saskatchewan’s Justice Minister Don Morgan announced on Friday that the provincial government may scrap its Human Right’s Tribunal. Instead, human rights issues will be turned over to the courts – the Court of Queen’s Bench to be exact.

The idea was suggested by David Arnot, the chief commissioner of the province’s human rights commission.  The province has both a tribunal and commission and there is some confusion about the difference between the two.  As Commissioner Arnot told the provincial legislature "This is a recommendation that's come forward and is a recommendation that, in fact, may have some merit. There are criticisms that the Saskatchewan Human Rights Tribunal may be seen as too close to the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission."

The Commission receives the initial complaint and investigates the case to determine whether it ought to be sent to the Tribunal.  If so, the Tribunal conducts a hearing and makes a decision.  If a decision is contested, it is then sent to the Court of Queen’s Bench for a final determination.  The government’s view is that by scrapping the Tribunal, the process would be streamlined and complaints would be handled more quickly.

The opposition New Democrats accuse the governing Saskatchewan Party of having a political motive in this move.  NDP MLA Frank Quennell stated “"I think there are supporters of the Saskatchewan Party who aren't happy with decisions of human rights tribunals over the years, and that is part of the motivation here."  He made mention of a recent tribunal decision that found a Regina marriage commissioner had discriminated against a same-sex couple by refusing to marry them.  The Court of Queen’s Bench upheld the ruling, but the provincial government has since asked the Court to rule on the constitutionality of a proposed law that would exempt marriage commissioners from performing such marriages for religious reasons.

Following some recent high profile human rights cases, tribunals have come under criticism in a number of provinces.  They have been accused of overstepping their authority and attempting to limit free speech. 

Share on

Latest Articles

• Bringing the World to Israel - September 2, 2010
• Group Traveling to Israel Explores Joppa - September 1, 2010
• UK Study Finds Decisions by Non-Religious Doctors May Hasten Death - August 31, 2010