The Human Rights Committee provides an opportunity on a regular basis for CACE members with an interest in workplace human rights to discuss and stay current on human rights issues, developments and trends across Canada. It also provides an opportunity to interact with CACE members from across Canada.
The Human Rights Committee meets bi-monthly. A standing agenda item allows members to share helpful or significant caselaw decisions from across Canada. Members also discuss recent or proposed legislative amendments and procedural rule changes in each jurisdiction including at the federal level. The cross-Canada focus of the Committee is very helpful because human rights issues that arise in one jurisdiction tend to arise in others. Also, some members practice in more than one jurisdiction. In addition to sharing substantive legal developments, members also have an opportunity to exchange practical advice and insight in a collegial environment, including with respect to employer defences and the duty to accommodate.
The meeting minutes provide details of discussions, as well as links to or PDF copies of recent cases, trends or recent or important unreported decisions. The Committee makes recommendations for a session at CACE’s annual conference focussed on human rights. The Committee is also responsible for coordinating a yearly webinar for the CACE membership, including in-house counsel members, on workplace human rights issues. Recent webinar topics have included: Hot Topics in Human Rights: Alcohol & Drug Testing and Family Status/Caregiving; Human Rights Committee - Age Discrimination: Challenges for Employers; Human Right Committee - CACE: Ethics in Human Rights: Dealing with Liars, Joint Retainers and Selfies; Human Rights Committee - #WeJustNeedToPee: Evolving Trans-Rights in Canada; and Human Rights Committee – Disentangling the Disease from the Discipline: Human Rights & Self Accommodation.
To join the Committee, please email our Executive Director, Tracy Scanks at [email protected].
