If you have been downtown in any Canadian city recently, you have probably noticed the same thing I have: there are far more people living on the streets.
Today marks the beginning of Black History Month. This is an opportunity to honour and celebrate the diverse legacies of Black people in Canada, past and present. This month also allows us to learn more about the important roles and achievements of Black people in Canada that have shaped our country.
In honour of yesterday’s National Day of Remembrance, the Canadian Human Rights Commission stands in solidarity with all Muslims in Canada as we remember the 2017 violent tragedy at the Québec City Mosque where six people were murdered and many others wounded. As we forever carry the weight of that terrible day in our hearts, we also insist upon turning our collective grief into collective action.
It is with heavy hearts that we honour the life and legacy of former Ontario Lieutenant Governor and accessibility rights champion David Onley, who passed away over the weekend at the age of 72.
International Human Rights Day is an opportunity to celebrate our accomplishments and reaffirm our commitment to equality, dignity and respect for everyone. Human rights are universal and the foundation of our free and democratic society.
Today, as we mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, it is an opportunity for everyone in Canada to recognize and reaffirm our collective commitment to realizing the rights set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This includes committing to accessibility and to eliminating barriers that prevent access to adequate housing, healthcare, employment, education, and information.
This month marks five years since the federal government released its 10-year, $72 billion National Housing Strategy in 2017 to reverse Canada's housing and homelessness crisis.
People with disabilities continue to face barriers and discrimination when travelling in Canada. In many cases, they are being denied their fundamental human rights.
Today, as we mark this second annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we call on non-Indigenous people in Canada to learn the truth about the atrocities of our past, to understand how those atrocities still live on today, and to assume collective responsibility in passing that knowledge on and helping turn it into meaningful action.
International Equal Pay Day is an opportunity for countries around the world to acknowledge the work that women do and their right to be paid equally. But this important day is not just a day of recognition. It is also a call to action.