But with a staff of 60 serving all of Ontario, how can the Commission possibly fulfill these crucial responsibilities?

In theory, Bill 107 established a Human Rights Legal Support Centre independent from, but accountable to, the Government of Ontario. The purpose of the Centre is to provide support services, including legal services, with respect to applications under the Code. The Centre’s services are supposed to include advice and assistance, legal and otherwise, with respect to the infringement of rights under Part 1 of the Code.  And these services are supposed to be provided throughout the province.

Presently, there is only one single “Legal Support Centre” serving the needs of all Ontarians. Although we are aware that the Legal Support Centre has set up some resources in locations outside of Toronto, many human rights advocates are skeptical that these services are adequate, especially for those outside the Greater Toronto Area, where the Centre is located.

In fact, anecdotal evidence shows that Ontarians are still seeking assistance from legal clinics in filing complaints. Some of the clinics are sending people back to the Legal Support Centre. Others are trying to continue assisting clients whose first language is not English. The full-time Human Rights Director of my own organization − the Ontario Federation of Labour − continues to assist both union and non-union workers with complaints, simply because the initial paperwork is overwhelming and a clear barrier to many individuals − especially for newcomers and those for whom English is a second or third language.  It should be noted that the Centre, such as it is, only opened its doors on June 30 of last year − a mere seven months ago.