Housing and Human RigHts - OJENojen.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/AFITD_Module-Six... · 2016-11-08 · • Poisoned environment 15. The office manager in my building always stops

A FOOT IN THE DOOR | 127

Module 6

Housing and Human RigHts

OV

ERV

IEW

This module introduces students to the issue of discrimination in the rental housing context, and the protections provided by the Ontario Human Rights Code (the Code). It engages students in a discussion about adequate housing, and asks them to explore how the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms could play in role in giving people whose right to adequate housing has been infringed a mechanism by which to claim the right, through sections 7 and 15.

Learning Objectives• To introduce students to the protections

provided by the Ontario Human Rights Code in the rental housing context.

• To introduce students to the concept of adequate housing.

• To introduce students to how the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms could recognize access to adequate housing.

• To enhance students’ critical thinking skills by asking them to explore theoretical perspectives.

activity 1: discrimination and Rental Housing

Materials• Copies of Human Rights and Rental Housing

Quiz (one per student)

• Copies of Human Rights and Rental Housing in Ontario (one per student)

• Copies of Writing a Fair Rental Housing Ad, available here: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/sites/default/files/Writing%20a%20fair%20rental%20housing%20ad_accessible.pdf (one per student)

• Copies of For Rent! – Drafting a Rental Housing Advertisement (one per student)

Teaching and Learning Strategies1. Distribute the Human Rights and Rental Housing

Quiz to students and give them time to complete the “Before” column. Explain that throughout the lesson they will be watching a series of videos and reading handouts that will increase their knowledge and understanding of human rights in the rental housing context. Invite them to add answers to the “After” column throughout the lesson, and explain that they will also be given time later on to fill in any remaining answers.

2. Provide students with an overview of human rights and rental housing by having them watch a 15-minute video from the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA) called Human Rights and Housing in Ontario, available here: http://www.equalityrights.org/cera/?page_id=74. For a deeper understanding of the topic, have students read CERA’s self-advocacy toolkit called Human Rights and Rental Housing in Ontario, available in the student handouts section. Check for understanding and clarify and points that are unclear.

3. Introduce students to specific examples of discrimination in the housing context by having them review two short videos, Discrimination in Rental Housing and Patterns of Discrimination, available from the Ontario Human Rights

T e a c h e r r e s o u r c e

http://www.ohrc.on.ca/sites/default/files/Writing%20a%20fair%20rental%20housing%20ad_accessible.pdf



http://www.equalityrights.org/cera/?page_id=74

A FOOT IN THE DOOR | 128 intRoduction to Real estateHousing and Human RigHts

Commission (OHRC) website here: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/learning/human-rights-and-rental-housing.

4. Give students time to review their answers to the Human Rights and Rental Housing Quiz, and fill in any remaining blanks in the “After” column. Take up the answers as a class.

cTeacher’s Key – Human Rights and Housing Quiz

1. I can’t live in adult-only apartments

because of my children.

FALSE “Adult-only” buildings

are not allowed in Ontario, unless it’s a care facility or residence for seniors.

2. I’m 72, so it’s all right for the building manager

to keep asking me if I’m ready to move into a retirement home.

FALSERepeated, unwanted

questions about age could be harassment

3. I’m 16 and because I’m on my own, the Code protects

me from discrimination if I want to rent my own apartment.

TRUEIf you are 16 or 17 and living on your own,

you have a right under the Code to sign a rental agreement or lease.

4. The woman who lives in the main floor unit doesn’t hide her

dislike for tenants who receive social assistance. She says they should move away. If I complain to the co-op, they

could evict me instead of her.

FALSEThe co-op is responsible for providing its tenants with an environment that is

free from discrimination. The Code does not allow the co-op to take actions or threaten to take actions, also known

as reprisal, against you for being a witness to discrimination.

http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/learning/human-rights-and-rental-housing



Module 6


5. A landlord can’t refuse to show me and

my boyfriend the apartment because we

are a gay couple.

TRUELandlords have a responsibility to

provide housing accommodation that is free from discrimination.

The Code covers the process from applying for an apartment up to and

including eviction.

6. I’m a student with a young child. The landlord

said he wants to rent to a couple. Is this discrimination?

YESThere are assumptions that come

with “preferring a couple.” Is the reason for not renting the unit because of the age of the mother or father, or because

the parent is not married (marital status) but has a child (family status), or

the parent is lesbian, gay or bisexual (sexual orientation)?

7. I rent an apartment in a low-rise building with 3 floors. I live on the top

floor, but now use a walker. I asked to transfer to a unit on

the 1st floor, but the property manager said there’s a long waiting list.

Is this discrimination?

YESHousing providers have a duty to

accommodate tenants short of undue hardship. A waiting list that

doesn’t consider Code-related factors may discriminate against people with, for example, disabilities or families

with young children.

8. Nobody wants noisy neighbours. The tenants upstairs work at night

and sleep during the day. So when they come home,

I can hear the TV or music playing in the morning. Is this discrimination?

NOIt is not a concern that comes up in the

Code. The noise is not based on a ground under the Code. However, tenants may

have rights under the RTA if neighbours’ are engaging in unreasonable behaviours

and activities that are interfering with the reasonable use and enjoyment

of their tenancy.




9. The hall lights in Building A are dark and

the common area is never cleaned. When new Canadians apply for an

apartment, they are shown new units in Building B, but are given units in

Building A instead. The landlord says the new building is for “Canadians”.


YESStreaming of tenants based on

race-related grounds, including language and culture, is discrimination under the Code.

“Canadian” is often wrongly used to refer to people who are Canadian-born

and usually white.

10. The manager of a local motel automatically

gives Aboriginal guests rooms at the back. These are smoking rooms with

no view of the lake. Is this discrimination?

YESEqual treatment in rental housing

includes renting a room in a hotel, motel, or bed and breakfast. This is another

example of streaming based on Code-related grounds.

11. What questions can you ask on a rental application form?

Write down all that apply.

• Income• Credit check

• Current address

12. Which of the following may screen out tenants based on Code

grounds? Write down all that apply.

• Proof of income in the form of pay stubs

• Credit profile and criminal check

• Minimum 6 months steady work history

NB: Landlords can deny a tenant if they have bad credit and this decision would not be discriminatory.

However, if they deny a tenant because of a Code protected ground and because of bad credit, then

the entire decision would be discriminatory and the Landlord would be opening herself up to an application under the Code. Criminal background is only a protected

ground as it relates to employment. However, if the person’s criminal history is related to a Code-protected

ground (such as a mental health disability) then any decisions made based on this are arguably discriminatory.

intRoduction to Real estateHousing and Human RigHts


13. Which of the following may screen out tenants

based on Code grounds? Write down all that apply.

• Broken leases or evictions from the past 3 years• Co-signers must be employed

14. My boyfriend works out of town and stays with me on the weekend.

The superintendent says that it’s not good for my kids to have a man around who

isn’t their father. This is an example of… based on the Code grounds of sex, family status, and marital status.

• Discrimination by association • Harassment

• Poisoned environment

15. The office manager in my building always stops

by the swimming pool when I’m there and tries to talk to me.

He’s asked me out a couple of times and I told him I’m not interested.

He knocked on my door and said the neighbours were complaining about the noise, but I’ve been away for the

last week. This is an example of:

• Reprisal• Sexual harassment

16. What wording may screen out tenants

on Code grounds in rental ads?

• A. Two-bedroom condo. Ideally suited for mature couple.

• C. Available now. Smoke-free apartment on main floor.

• D. Must sign 1-year lease and provide verifiable source of income.

NB: The issue of how to accommodate smoking as a disability is complicated. There are some conflicting

decisions from the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal regarding whether or not addiction to nicotine

(i.e. smoking) is a disability and therefore protected by the Code. Additionally, there are often competing

rights at play – for example, neighbours who have health conditions that may be aggravated by

second hand smoke. In these cases, the landlord must balance the rights of all tenants involved.


Module 6



5. Explain to students that protection from discrimination in housing also involves ensuring that rental advertisements comply with the Code. To provide an overview of how rental advertisements should be drafted, have students view the OHRC video, Landlords and Rental Housing, available here: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/learning/human-rights-and-rental-housing, as well as the handout, Writing a Fair Rental Housing Ad, available here: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/sites/default/files/Writing%20a%20fair%20rental%20housing%20ad_accessible.pdf.

6. Distribute the For Rent! – Drafting a Rental Housing Advertisement exercise and have students complete it on their own or in pairs. Once complete, ask for volunteers to present their ad to the class. Debrief and clarify any questions students might have.








HumAN RIgHTs AND RENTAL HOusINg QuIz*

QUESTION BEFORE AFTER

1. I can’t live in adult-only apartments because of my children.

• True • False

2. I’m 72, so it’s alright for the building manager to keep asking me if I’m ready

to move into a retirement home.

• True • False

3. I’m 16 and because I’m on my own, the Code protects me from discrimination

if I want to rent my own apartment.

• True • False

4. The woman who lives in the main floor unit doesn’t hide her dislike for tenants who receive social assistance. She says

they should move away. If I complain to the co-op, they could evict me instead of her.

• True • False

5. A landlord can’t refuse to show me and my boyfriend the apartment

because we are a gay couple.

• True • False

Module 6

*This quiz was produced by the Ontario Human Rights Commission and is available online here: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/learning/human-rights-and-rental-housing/review.

s T u D e N T h a N D o u T

http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/learning/human-rights-and-rental-housing/review.


HumAN RIgHTs AND RENTAL HOusINg QuIz


6. I’m a student with a young child. The landlord said he wants to rent to a couple. Is this discrimination?

• Yes • No

7. I rent an apartment in a low-rise building with 3 floors. I live on the top floor, but now use a walker. I asked to transfer to a unit on

the 1st floor, but the property manager said there’s a long waiting list.


• Yes • No

8. Nobody wants noisy neighbours. The tenants upstairs work at night and

sleep during the day. So when they come home, I can hear the TV or music playing

in the morning. Is this discrimination?

• Yes • No

9. The hall lights in Building A are dark and the common area is never cleaned.

When new Canadians apply for an apartment, they are shown new units in Building B,

but are given units in Building A instead. The landlord says the new building is for

“Canadians”. Is this discrimination?

• Yes • No


Module 6



10. The manager of a local motel automatically gives Aboriginal guests rooms at the back.

These are smoking rooms with no view of the lake. Is this discrimination?

• Yes • No

11. What questions can you ask on a rental application form? Write down all that apply.

• Birthdate

•Religion

• Social insurance number

• Employment

• Income

• Credit check

• Current address

12. Which of the following may screen out tenants based on Code grounds?


• Proof of income in the form of pay stubs

• Current address and phone number

• Credit profile and criminal check

• Minimum 6 months steady work history

13. Which of the following may screen out tenants based on Code grounds?


• Broken leases or evictions from the past 3 years

• Co-signers must be employed

• Names of references

• Emergency contact





14. My boyfriend works out of town and stays with me on the weekend. The superintendent

says that it’s not good for my kids to have a man around who isn’t their father.

This is an example of:

• Discrimination by association

• Harassment

• Sexual harassment

• Poisoned environment

• Systemic discrimination

• Not In My Back Yard (i.e. NIMBYism)

15. The office manager in my building always stops by the swimming pool when I’m there and

tries to talk to me. He’s asked me out a couple of times and I told him I’m not interested.

He knocked on my door and said the neighbours were complaining about the noise, but I’ve been

away for the last week. This is an example of:

• Negative attitudes, stereotypes, bias

• Discrimination by association

• Reprisal

• Sexual harassment

16. What wording may screen out tenants on Code grounds in rental ads?

• A. Two-bedroom condo. Ideally suited for mature couple.

• B. Pet friendly building. Close to parks and schools.

• C. Available now. Smoke-free apartment on main floor.

• D. Must sign 1-year lease and provide verifiable source of income.

Score / 16

What’s Inside this Guide?!!About CERA & This Toolkit! ! ! ! 1

Navigating the Code! ! ! ! ! 3

Understanding Discrimination in Housing! ! 5

Harassment: What You Need to Know! ! 7

Understanding Disability! ! ! ! 9

A Landlord’s Duty to Accommodate!! ! 11

How to File a Human Rights Application! ! 13

Ontario’s Human Rights System: The Basics! 14

How to be Your Own Advocate: Examples! 15

The Basics of Letter Writing ! ! ! ! 19

Sample Letters! ! ! ! ! ! 21

Where Can You Go for Help in Ontario?! ! 25

Disclaimer & Acknowledgements! ! ! 27

HUMAN RIGHTS & RENTAL HOUSING IN ONTARIO

Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation!

Working with you to realize your housing rights.

A Self-Advocacy Toolkit


Module 6


What’s Inside this Guide?!!About CERA & This Toolkit! ! ! ! 1

Navigating the Code! ! ! ! ! 3

Understanding Discrimination in Housing! ! 5

Harassment: What You Need to Know! ! 7

Understanding Disability! ! ! ! 9

A Landlord’s Duty to Accommodate!! ! 11

How to File a Human Rights Application! ! 13

Ontario’s Human Rights System: The Basics! 14

How to be Your Own Advocate: Examples! 15

The Basics of Letter Writing ! ! ! ! 19

Sample Letters! ! ! ! ! ! 21

Where Can You Go for Help in Ontario?! ! 25

Disclaimer & Acknowledgements! ! ! 27

HUMAN RIGHTS & RENTAL HOUSING IN ONTARIO

Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation!

Working with you to realize your housing rights.

A Self-Advocacy Toolkit

A FOOT IN THE DOOR | 138 Housing and Human RigHts

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A FOOT IN THE DOOR | 139Module 6


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know

tha

t if

you

are

requ

ired

to s

hare

a k

itche

n or

bat

hroo

m w

ith th

e

owne

r of

the

apa

rtmen

t or

a m

embe

r of

the

ir fa

mily

, you

are

NO

T pr

otec

ted

by th

e Co

de.

! The

Code

say

s th

at a

ll pe

ople

mus

t be

tre

ated

eq

ually

whe

n th

ey a

pply

to re

nt a

plac

e to

live.

This

m

eans

a la

ndlo

rd h

as to

look

at e

ach

appl

icant

as

an in

divid

ual a

nd n

ot m

ake

decis

ions

bas

ed o

n st

ereo

type

s.

Disc

rimin

atio

n in

Hou

sing

56



! It is

illega

l for

a la

ndlo

rd,

his e

mpl

oyee

, or

an

othe

r ten

ant i

n th

e sa

me

build

ing to

har

ass

you

on t

he b

asis

of a

pro

hibite

d gr

ound

. W

hen

one

tena

nt

is ha

rass

ing

anot

her

beca

use

of a

pro

hibite

d gr

ound

, it

is th

e lan

dlor

d’s

resp

onsib

ility

to m

ake

sure

the

ha

rass

men

t sto

ps.

For

exam

ple,

if a

neig

hbou

r is

hara

ssing

yo

u be

caus

e of

you

r sex

ual o

rient

atio

n an

d yo

u re

port

this

to th

e lan

dlor

d, h

e ne

eds

to

take

ste

ps t

o st

op t

he h

aras

smen

t. Th

e lan

dlor

d m

ight

writ

e th

e te

nant

a l

ette

r te

lling

them

wha

t th

ey a

re d

oing

is il

legal

and

infor

ming

them

that

it m

ust s

top.

Ha

rass

me

nt

is

rep

eate

d co

mm

ents

or b

ehav

iour

s re

lated

to a

pr

ohib

ited

grou

nd th

at a

re k

now

n, o

r sh

ould

be

know

n, to

be

unw

elcom

e.

It is

illega

l to

ha

rass

a

pers

on

beca

use

of a

cha

ract

erist

ic re

lated

to

the

proh

ibite

d gr

ound

s un

der

the

Code

.

Repr

isal

is

nega

tive

beha

viour

di

rect

ed

tow

ards

a t

enan

t be

caus

e th

ey h

ave

mad

e a

hum

an ri

ghts

com

plain

t. Ev

eryo

ne in

Ont

ario

has

th

e rig

ht to

clai

m a

nd e

nfor

ce th

eir h

uman

righ

ts

with

out t

he fe

ar o

r thr

eat o

f rep

risal.

It is

illeg

al fo

r a

landl

ord

to t

ry t

o “g

et r

even

ge”

or “

get

even

” w

ith a

ten

ant

who

has

trie

d to

clai

m o

r en

forc

e th

eir h

uman

righ

ts.

For

exam

ple,

if

a te

nant

co

mpl

ains

to

their

lan

dlor

d th

at a

noth

er t

enan

t is

hara

ssing

the

m

base

d on

the

ir ra

ce,

som

e lan

dlor

ds m

ight

view

th

e co

mpl

aining

ten

ant

as t

he p

robl

em.

If th

e lan

dlor

d st

oppe

d m

aking

rep

airs

for

the

tena

nt

who

was

com

plain

ing o

r tri

ed to

evic

t the

m, t

his

could

be

an in

stan

ce o

f rep

risal.

78


Disa

bilit

y is

any

degr

ee o

f phy

sical

disa

bilit

y, a

cond

ition

of

m

enta

l im

pairm

ent

or

a de

velo

pmen

tal

disa

bility

, a

learn

ing d

isabi

lity,

or a

m

enta

l diso

rder

. Di

sabi

lity s

hould

be

inter

pret

ed b

r o

a d

l y

. Di

sabi

lity

unde

r th

e C

ode

incl

udes

bo

th

pres

ent

and

past

con

ditio

ns, a

s w

ell

as s

ociet

y’s p

erce

ptio

n of

a d

isabi

lity.

Disa

biliti

es c

an b

e vis

ible

or “

hidde

n” f

rom

ot

hers

. Te

nant

s ha

ve t

he r

ight

to

the

sam

e op

portu

nitie

s an

d be

nefit

s w

heth

er

their

di

sabi

lities

are

visi

ble

or n

ot.

Men

tal h

ealth

iss

ues

and/

or

addi

ctio

ns

are

defin

ed

as

disa

biliti

es

that

ar

e pr

otec

ted

unde

r th

e Co

de.

For e

xam

ple,

the

Code

pro

tect

s pe

ople

who

ha

ve

anxi

ety

diso

rder

s,

pani

c at

tack

s,

depr

essio

n, s

chizo

phre

nia,

or a

ddict

ions

to

alcoh

ol o

r dru

gs.

The

Code

say

s th

at p

eopl

e w

ith m

enta

l he

alth

issue

s an

d/or

add

ictio

ns h

ave

the

sam

e rig

ht to

be

free

from

disc

rimina

tion

as a

nyon

e els

e w

ith a

di

sabi

lity. D

iscrim

inatio

n in

hous

ing h

appe

ns w

hen

a pe

rson

is tr

eate

d in

a ne

gativ

e w

ay b

ecau

se o

f th

eir m

enta

l he

alth

or a

ddict

ion

disa

bility

. O

ften

disc

rimina

tion

is th

e re

sult

of s

tigm

a, n

egat

ive

ster

eoty

pes

or p

rejud

ice a

roun

d vis

ible

or “h

idde

n”

disa

biliti

es.

For

exam

ple,

a l

andl

ord

may

ref

use

to r

ent

an

apar

tmen

t to

so

meo

ne

with

a

men

tal

healt

h di

sabi

lity b

ecau

se t

hey

think

the

per

son

will

not

take

car

e of

their

apa

rtmen

t or p

ay th

eir re

nt. T

his

is a

ster

eoty

pe a

nd is

unt

rue,

and

is d

iscrim

inato

ry.

109



Wha

t is

“und

ue h

ards

hip”

?! La

ndlo

rds

are

requ

ired

to t

ake

acco

mm

odat

ion

requ

ests

ser

ious

ly an

d re

spon

d to

them

in a

tim

ely

man

ner.

Land

lord

s ar

e on

ly ab

le to

de

ny

an

acco

mm

odat

ion

requ

est i

f the

y ca

n pr

ove

“und

ue

hard

ship

.”

! A lan

dlor

d ca

n on

ly cla

im

undu

e ha

rdsh

ip

if ac

com

mod

ating

a te

nant

wou

ld s

erio

usly

thre

aten

th

e fin

ancia

l viab

ility

of th

eir b

usine

ss o

r end

ange

r th

e he

alth

or s

afet

y of

oth

er t

enan

ts.

Both

the

lan

dlor

d an

d th

e te

nant

sho

uld lo

ok in

to w

heth

er

any

outs

ide

sour

ces

of

fund

ing,

su

ch

as

gove

rnm

ent

gran

ts,

are

avail

able

to h

elp p

ay f

or

the

cost

of a

ccom

mod

atio

n. I

t is

the

resp

onsib

ility

of t

he l

andl

ord

to p

rove

und

ue h

ards

hip.

The

thre

shol

d fo

r und

ue h

ards

hip is

hig

h.

! The

Duty

to A

ccom

mod

ate

is co

mpr

ised

of th

ree

princ

iples

: !

1)

Resp

ect f

or d

ignit

y,

2)

Indi

vidua

lizat

ion,

and

3)

Inte

grat

ion

and

full p

artic

ipat

ion

! !

Th

e Du

ty to

Acc

omm

odat

e

! The

duty

to a

ccom

mod

ate

is a

very

impo

rtant

par

t of

the

Code

. It

says

tha

t st

ruct

ures

, ru

les,

polic

ies o

r pr

actic

es m

ay h

ave

to b

e ch

ange

d so

that

all p

eopl

e en

joy

equa

l be

nefit

, eq

ual

treat

men

t, eq

ual

right

s,

and

equa

l acc

ess

in th

eir h

ousin

g. A

com

mon

reas

on

that

tena

nts

invok

e th

e du

ty to

acc

omm

odat

e is

to

requ

est

phys

ical

ch

ange

s to

th

e bu

ildin

g to

ac

com

mod

ate

a ph

ysic

al

disa

bilit

y.

But

ac

com

mod

atio

n ca

n be

re

quire

d in

ot

her

circu

mst

ance

s as

well

, inc

luding

whe

n a

tena

nt

need

s ac

com

mod

atio

n du

e to

a

men

tal

healt

h di

sabi

lity o

r add

ictio

n.

! Wha

t are

the

oblig

atio

ns o

f the

per

son

requ

iring

the

acco

mm

odat

ion?

! A

tena

nt

who

re

quire

s ac

com

mod

atio

n sh

ould

pr

ovid

e a

writ

ten

requ

est

to t

he la

ndlo

rd e

xplai

ning

the

need

for a

ccom

mod

atio

n an

d ho

w it

relat

es to

a

proh

ibite

d gr

ound

und

er th

e Co

de. C

ERA

can

assis

t by

writ

ing le

tters

relat

ed to

acc

omm

odat

ion

requ

ests

on

the

ten

ant’s

beh

alf.

Onc

e th

e re

ques

t ha

s be

en

mad

e, th

e te

nant

sho

uld c

oope

rate

with

the

landl

ord

as th

ey d

iscus

s ac

com

mod

atio

n so

lutio

ns.

! A pe

rson

who

req

uires

an

acco

mm

odat

ion

for

a m

edica

l rea

son

will

likely

nee

d to

pro

vide

a do

ctor

’s let

ter s

uppo

rting

their

requ

est.

1211


H

ow to

File

a H

uman

Rig

hts

Appl

icat

ion

If yo

u ha

ve

been

di

scrim

inate

d ag

ainst

an

d ca

nnot

res

olve

the

iss

ue i

nfor

mall

y w

ith y

our

landl

ord,

you

may

wish

to fi

le an

app

licat

ion

with

th

e O

ntar

io H

uman

Rig

hts

Trib

unal.

To

mak

e a

claim

with

the

Trib

unal,

you

mus

t co

mpl

ete

a fo

rmal

appl

icatio

n.

! Step

1: C

ollec

t the

info

rmat

ion

and

evid

ence

you

ne

ed

for

your

ap

pli

cati

on

(ie.

an

y co

rresp

onde

nce

with

yo

ur

landl

ord,

m

edica

l ev

iden

ce, p

hoto

grap

hs, e

tc.)

! Step

2:

Fil

l ou

t an

ap

plica

tion.

To

ge

t an

ap

plica

tion

form

, yo

u ca

n co

ntac

t th

e Tr

ibun

al di

rect

ly or

dow

nload

a c

opy

from

their

web

site:

! 1-

866-

598-

0322

or T

TY: 1

-866

-607

-124

0

! http

://w

ww.

sjto.

gov.o

n.ca

/hrto

/form

s-fili

ng/

! Step

3: O

nce

your

app

licat

ion

is co

mpl

ete,

you

ca

n se

nd it

to th

e Hu

man

Rig

hts

Trib

unal

by m

ail,

email

or f

ax.

!M

ail:

Regi

stra

r - H

uman

Rig

hts

Trib

unal

of

Ont

ario

, 655

Bay

St.

14th

Flo

or To

ront

o,

ON

M7A

2A3

Em

ail:

HRTO

.Reg

istra

r@on

tario

.ca

Fax:

(4

16) 3

26-2

199

! !H

ow d

oes

Ont

ario

’s

hum

an ri

ghts

sys

tem

wor

k?

! Ont

ario

's h

uman

rig

hts

syst

em is

mad

e up

of

thre

e se

para

te a

genc

ies:

! The

Hum

an R

ight

s Tr

ibun

al i

s w

here

hum

an r

ight

s ap

plica

tions

are

filed

and

dec

ided

. ! Th

e H

uman

Rig

hts

Lega

l Sup

port

Cen

tre g

ives

free

lega

l he

lp

to

peop

le

who

ha

ve

expe

rienc

ed

disc

rimina

tion

unde

r the

Cod

e.

! The

Ont

ario

Hum

an R

ight

s C

omm

issi

on w

orks

to

prom

ote,

pro

tect

, and

adv

ance

hum

an r

ight

s th

roug

h re

sear

ch, e

duca

tion,

and

pol

icy d

evelo

pmen

t. ! Co

ntac

t inf

orm

atio

n fo

r the

se a

genc

ies c

an b

e fo

und

in th

e “W

here

Can

You

Go

for

Help

?” s

ectio

n of

this

re

sour

ce.

1314



Be Y

our O

wn

Best

Adv

ocat

e!! ! 3)

Don

’t fo

rget

that

em

ail a

nd te

xt

com

mun

icatio

ns c

an b

e he

lpfu

l bec

ause

they

cr

eate

a d

ated

reco

rd o

f you

r con

vers

atio

ns.

Keep

a c

opy

of a

ny e

mail

or t

exts

sen

t to

your

lan

dlor

d. B

ut, r

emem

ber n

ot to

sen

d em

ails

or

text

s in

hast

e! T

hey

could

be

used

aga

inst y

ou.

!4)

Writ

e a

lette

r to

your

land

lord

det

ailing

you

r co

ncer

ns a

nd, i

f app

ropr

iate,

requ

est

acco

mm

odat

ion.

Rem

embe

r to

keep

a c

opy!

!5)

Call

CER

A. S

taff

or v

olun

teer

s ca

n co

ntac

t

the

landl

ord

to a

dvoc

ate

on y

our b

ehalf

.!

6) Y

ou m

ay w

ish to

file

an a

pplic

atio

n w

ith th

e Hu

man

Rig

hts

Trib

unal.

You

hav

e on

e ye

ar

from

the

date

of t

he la

st in

ciden

t of

disc

rimina

tion

to fil

e th

e ap

plica

tion.

!7)

Be

prep

ared

. The

Trib

unal

proc

ess

can

take

tim

e. Y

ou m

ay h

ave

to w

ait s

ever

al m

onth

s or

ev

en a

yea

r bef

ore

you

your

cas

e is

reso

lved.

!8)

The

Hum

an R

ight

s Le

gal S

uppo

rt Ce

ntre

(H

RLSC

) may

be

able

to p

rovid

e as

sista

nce.

Yo

u ca

n co

ntac

t the

HRL

SC a

t 1-

866-

625-

5179

or T

TY: 1

-866

-612

-862

7. Y

ou

can

also

go to

the

HRLS

C w

ebsit

e at

w

ww.

hrlsc

.on.

ca.

Exam

ple:

You

are

a t

enan

t an

d yo

u th

ink

your

land

lord

is d

iscr

imin

atin

g ag

ains

t you

. ! Yo

u im

mig

rate

d to

Can

ada

thre

e ye

ars

ago

and

have

live

d in

your

unit

sinc

e ar

riving

in C

anad

a.

Seve

ral t

imes

dur

ing y

our

tena

ncy,

your

land

lord

ha

s to

ld y

ou th

at y

ou h

ave

too

man

y ch

ildre

n. T

he

landl

ord

has

also

com

plain

ed a

bout

the

“sm

ell”

whe

n yo

u co

ok. R

ecen

tly, y

ou h

ave

notic

ed t

hat

whil

e ot

her

tena

nts

have

rep

airs

mad

e to

the

ir un

its q

uickly

, yo

ur r

eque

sts

are

alway

s ig

nore

d.

You

think

you

are

bein

g tre

ated

unf

airly

beca

use

of

your

fam

ily s

tatu

s an

d pl

ace

of o

rigin.

Wha

t sho

uld

you

do?

! 1)K

eep

a w

ritte

n re

cord

of e

vent

s. T

he d

ates

and

tim

es o

f the

incid

ent(s

) can

be

usef

ul ev

iden

ce

if the

re is

a d

isagr

eem

ent.

Ofte

n a

log

or a

ca

lenda

r is

a he

lpfu

l way

to re

cord

this

infor

mat

ion.

! 2)W

rite

dow

n ev

eryt

hing

that

you

can

rem

embe

r ab

out t

he in

ciden

t(s).

Nam

es, d

ates

, and

wha

t w

as s

aid b

y w

hom

. If y

ou a

re a

ble

to ta

ke

note

s ab

out y

our c

onve

rsat

ion

whil

e yo

u ar

e ta

lking

or s

oon

afte

rwar

ds, y

ou w

ill ha

ve m

ore

infor

mat

ion

to re

fer t

o lat

er.

1516


Be Y

our O

wn

Best

Adv

ocat

e!Ex

ampl

e: Y

ou a

re a

partm

ent

hunt

ing

and

thin

k yo

u ha

ve b

een

deni

ed a

uni

t fo

r a

disc

rimin

ator

y re

ason

. ! Yo

u fo

und

an a

partm

ent

listin

g th

at y

ou a

re

inter

este

d in

onlin

e. Y

ou c

alled

the

landl

ord

and

had

a po

sitive

con

vers

atio

n. Y

ou s

et u

p an

ap

point

men

t to

view

the

unit

the

next

day

. Onc

e yo

u ar

rived

at

the

appo

intm

ent,

the

landl

ord

look

ed

at

you

and

said

“S

orry,

it’s

alr

eady

re

nted

.” Yo

u be

lieve

the

lan

dlor

d w

as j

udgi

ng

you

beca

use

of y

our r

ace.

!W

hat s

houl

d yo

u do

?! 1)W

rite

dow

n ev

eryt

hing

that

hap

pene

d inc

luding

da

tes,

tim

es, a

nd w

hat w

as s

aid b

y w

hom

. ! 2)C

heck

to s

ee if

the

apar

tmen

t is

still

liste

d on

line.

If

so, p

rint a

nd d

ate

the

adve

rtise

men

t. Yo

u ca

n ha

ve a

frien

d ca

ll to

ask

for a

n ap

point

men

t to

view

it. Y

ou c

an a

lso c

all C

ERA

to h

ave

a st

aff

mem

ber c

all th

e lan

dlor

d.

!

1718

! ! ! 3)

If th

e lan

dlor

d sa

ys it

is s

till a

vaila

ble,

call

CE

RA. S

taff

can

cont

act t

he la

ndlo

rd to

en

cour

age

them

to re

cons

ider

you

r ap

plica

tion

if you

are

still

inte

rest

ed in

the

apar

tmen

t. ! 4)

If th

e lan

dlor

d re

fuse

s yo

ur a

pplic

atio

n af

ter t

hey

have

bee

n co

nfro

nted

abo

ut

the

disc

rimina

tion,

you

may

wish

to fil

e an

ap

plica

tion

at th

e Hu

man

Rig

hts

Trib

unal.

Yo

u ha

ve o

ne y

ear f

rom

the

date

of t

he

incid

ent o

f disc

rimina

tion

to fil

e th

e ap

plica

tion.

! 5)

Be p

repa

red.

The

Trib

unal

proc

ess

can

take

tim

e. Y

ou m

ay h

ave

to w

ait s

ever

al m

onth

s or

eve

n a

year

bef

ore

your

cas

e is

reso

lved.

! 6)

The

Hum

an R

ight

s Le

gal S

uppo

rt Ce

ntre

(H

RLSC

) may

be

able

to p

rovid

e as

sista

nce.

You

can

con

tact

the

HRLS

C at

1-8

66-6

25-5

179

or T

TY:

1-86

6-61

2-86

27. Y

ou c

an a

lso g

o to

the

HRLS

C w

ebsit

e at

ww

w.hr

lsc.o

n.ca

. !

!



The

Basi

cs o

f Let

ter W

ritin

gW

riting

a le

tter d

etail

ing y

our c

once

rns

to th

e lan

dlor

d is

ofte

n a

good

firs

t ste

p to

reso

lve a

co

nflict

. Eve

n if

you

feel

angr

y or

ups

et, y

our

lette

r sho

uld b

e po

lite a

nd c

lear.

! Re

mem

ber

to d

ate

and

sign

your

lette

r. Yo

u sh

ould

also

kee

p at

leas

t on

e co

py o

f th

e let

ter

for

your

self.

If th

e lan

dlor

d do

esn’

t pr

oper

ly de

al w

ith th

e iss

ue, y

our l

ette

r will

be

impo

rtant

evid

ence

if y

ou fi

le an

app

licat

ion

at

the

Hum

an R

ight

s Tr

ibun

al.

! If yo

u’re

una

ble

to w

rite

a let

ter y

ours

elf, y

ou

shou

ld a

sk a

frien

d or

fam

ily m

embe

r for

he

lp.

You

can

also

ca

ll C

ERA

for

assis

tanc

e.

!

St

ep 1

: Exp

lain

the

fact

s of

wha

t ha

ppen

ed fr

om y

our p

ersp

ectiv

e. B

e as

de

taile

d an

d pr

ecise

as

poss

ible,

with

dat

es

(or a

ppro

ximat

e da

tes),

plac

es, a

nd a

de

scrip

tion

of th

e inc

iden

ts a

nd e

very

one

that

was

invo

lved.

! Step

2: R

emind

the

landl

ord

of y

our r

ight

s,

whic

h ar

e fo

und

in th

e Co

de.

! Step

3: T

ell th

e lan

dlor

d w

hat y

ou w

ould

like

to h

ave

happ

en n

ext.

For e

xam

ple,

requ

est

that

the

landl

ord

cont

act a

tena

nt w

ho is

ha

rass

ing y

ou, o

r mak

e a

requ

est f

or

acco

mm

odat

ion.

! St

ep 4

: If y

our r

eque

st fo

r acc

omm

odat

ion

is re

lated

to a

disa

bility

, atta

ch a

med

ical

note

from

you

r doc

tor s

uppo

rting

you

r re

ques

t.! St

ep 5

: Ask

you

r lan

dlor

d to

re

ply

to y

our l

ette

r in

writ

ing.

! Step

6: S

ign

and

date

yo

ur le

tter!

!St

ep 7

: Kee

p a

copy

of t

he

lette

r in

a sa

fe p

lace.

Rem

embe

r: Eff

ectiv

e se

lf-ad

voca

cy b

egin

s w

ith k

now

ing

your

righ

ts.

1920


Sam

ple

Lette

r # 1

A le

tter t

o yo

ur la

ndlo

rd re

ques

ting

acco

mm

odat

ion

for a

dis

abilit

y.!

Scen

ario

: Nar

mee

n liv

es in

an

apar

tmen

t in

a 10

-sto

rey

build

ing th

at h

as a

com

mun

al lau

ndry

room

. She

requ

ires

a w

heelc

hair

due

to a

phy

sical

disa

bility

. Na

rmee

n is

unab

le to

acc

ess

the

build

ing’s

laund

ry r

oom

bec

ause

th

ere

are

thre

e st

eps

and

a he

avy

door

at t

he e

ntra

nce.

!

Wha

t can

Nar

mee

n do

?! Na

rmee

n ca

n as

k he

r doc

tor t

o w

rite

a let

ter e

xplai

ning

that

she

can

’t ac

cess

the

laun

dry

room

bec

ause

she

re

quire

s a

whe

elcha

ir as

a r

esult

of

her

disa

bility

. Th

e do

ctor

sho

uld e

xplai

n th

at N

arm

een

need

s a

ram

p an

d an

aut

omat

ic do

or in

ord

er to

acc

ess

the

laund

ry ro

om.

Next

, Na

rmee

n sh

ould

writ

e he

r lan

dlor

d a

clear

lette

r as

king

for a

ram

p an

d an

aut

omat

ic do

or to

the

laund

ry

room

as

an a

ccom

mod

atio

n fo

r he

r di

sabi

lity.

In

the

lette

r, sh

e sh

ould

be

as c

lear

and

spec

ific a

s po

ssib

le.

Whe

n sh

e se

nds

the

lette

r, sh

e sh

ould

inclu

de a

cop

y of

th

e do

ctor

’s let

ter w

ith it

. Nar

mee

n sh

ould

kee

p a

copy

of

bot

h let

ters

for h

er re

cord

s.

! If th

e la

ndlo

rd d

oes

not r

espo

nd to

a le

tter,

or re

fuse

s an

initi

al w

ritte

n re

ques

t, ca

ll C

ERA

and

we

can

help

.

Nam

e of

Lan

dlor

d A

ddre

ss o

f Lan

dlor

d D

ear N

ame

of L

andl

ord,

I liv

e at

Add

ress

. I c

anno

t ac

cess

the

laun

dry

roo

m o

n th

e m

ain

floo

r of

the

bui

ldin

g d

ue to

a d

isab

ility

. I a

m u

nab

le t

o o

pen

the

do

or

or

clim

b

the

thre

e st

airs

at t

he e

ntra

nce

of t

he la

und

ry ro

om

bec

ause

I re

qui

re

the

use

of a

whe

elch

air

due

to

my

dis

abili

ty. I

’m a

skin

g N

ame

of

Prop

erty

Man

agem

ent C

ompa

ny o

r Lan

dlor

d to

inst

all a

ram

p a

nd a

n au

tom

atic

do

or t

o t

he la

und

ry ro

om

so

tha

t I c

an a

cces

s th

e fa

cilit

ies.

I am

mak

ing

thi

s re

que

st a

s an

acc

om

mo

dat

ion

for

a d

isab

ility

und

er

Ont

ario

’s H

uman

Rig

hts

Co

de

(the

Co

de)

: !

s. 2

(1) –

Eve

ry p

erso

n ha

s a

right

to

eq

ual t

reat

men

t w

ith r

esp

ect

to

the

occ

upan

cy o

f ac

com

mo

dat

ion,

with

out

dis

crim

inat

ion

bec

ause

o

f ra

ce,

ance

stry

, p

lace

of

orig

in,

colo

ur,

ethn

ic o

rigin

, ci

tizen

ship

, cr

eed

, se

x, s

exua

l o

rient

atio

n, a

ge,

mar

ital

stat

us,

fam

ily s

tatu

s,

dis

abili

ty o

r th

e re

ceip

t of s

oci

al a

ssis

tanc

e.

! Und

er t

he C

od

e, h

ous

ing

pro

vid

ers

have

a d

uty

to

acco

mm

od

ate

tena

nts’

dis

abili

ties

in a

way

tha

t m

eets

in

div

idua

l nee

ds,

pro

mo

tes

inte

gra

tion

and

full

par

ticip

atio

n,

and

ens

ures

co

nfid

entia

lity.

If y

ou

are

unfa

mili

ar w

ith y

our

o

blig

atio

ns a

s a

land

lord

und

er t

he C

od

e, t

he p

olic

y o

n hu

man

rig

hts

and

rent

al h

ous

ing

can

be

foun

d o

n th

e O

ntar

io H

uman

Ri

ght

s C

om

mis

sio

n’s

web

site

: htt

p:/

/ww

w.o

hrc.

on.

ca/.

! I h

ave

incl

uded

a le

tter

fro

m m

y d

oct

or

sup

po

rtin

g m

y re

que

st

for a

cco

mm

od

atio

n.

! Than

k yo

u fo

r yo

ur a

tten

tion

to t

his

mat

ter.

I wo

uld

ap

pre

ciat

e a

writ

ten

resp

ons

e to

thi

s le

tter

with

in t

he c

om

ing

wee

k.

! Sinc

erel

y,

! Nar

mee

n

Dat

e

2122



Sam

ple

Lette

r # 2

A le

tter t

o yo

ur la

ndlo

rd re

gard

ing

hara

ssm

ent b

ased

on

sexu

al

orie

ntat

ion.

! Scen

ario

: Enr

ique

has

lived

in a

n ap

artm

ent i

n a

not-f

or-

profi

t ho

using

com

plex

for

ten

yea

rs.

Rece

ntly,

a n

ew

neig

hbou

r has

bee

n m

aking

der

ogat

ory

com

men

ts a

bout

En

rique

’s se

xual

orien

tatio

n ev

ery

time

he s

ees

him. T

he

neig

hbou

r use

s of

fens

ive la

ngua

ge, p

uts

him d

own,

and

th

reat

ens

to “

beat

him

up.

” E

nriq

ue fe

els th

reat

ened

in

his o

wn

hom

e.

!W

hat c

an E

nriq

ue d

o?

! Enriq

ue s

hould

kee

p tra

ck o

f the

dat

es a

nd ti

mes

of t

he

incid

ents

. He

shou

ld w

rite

dow

n w

hat w

as s

aid a

nd w

ho

said

it.

Enriq

ue s

hould

the

n w

rite

his la

ndlo

rd a

clea

r let

ter e

xplai

ning

that

he

is be

ing h

aras

sed

beca

use

of h

is se

xual

orien

tatio

n. E

nriq

ue s

hould

be

sure

to

includ

e de

tails

abo

ut th

e inc

iden

ts. E

nriq

ue c

an a

sk th

e lan

dlor

d to

tell t

he o

ther

tena

nt w

hat t

hey

are

doing

is a

gains

t the

law

and

mus

t sto

p. T

he la

ndlo

rd s

hould

info

rm th

e ot

her

tena

nt o

f the

buil

ding

’s hu

man

righ

ts p

olicy

(if t

hey

have

on

e).

! If th

e la

ndlo

rd d

oes

not r

espo

nd to

a le

tter,

or re

fuse

s an

initi

al w

ritte

n re

ques

t, ca

ll C

ERA

and

we

can

help

.

Nam

e of

Lan

dlor

d A

ddre

ss o

f Lan

dlor

d ! D

ear N

ame

of L

andl

ord,

! I l

ive

at A

ddre

ss. R

ecen

tly, N

ame

of o

ther

Ten

ant w

ho li

ves

at

Add

ress

has

bee

n ha

rass

ing

me

bec

ause

of m

y se

xual

orie

ntat

ion.

H

ere

is a

list

of s

om

e o

f the

mo

st re

cent

inci

den

ts:

1. D

ate

and

time:

Wha

t hap

pene

d 2.

Dat

e an

d tim

e: W

hat h

appe

ned

…

As

a re

sult

of t

his

hara

ssm

ent,

I d

o n

ot

feel

saf

e in

the

bui

ldin

g a

nd I

am a

skin

g y

ou

to h

elp

sto

p t

his

hara

ssm

ent.

As

a la

ndlo

rd,

Ont

ario

’s H

uman

Rig

hts

Co

de

(the

Co

de)

ob

ligat

es y

ou

to e

nsur

e th

at o

ccup

ants

o

f yo

ur b

uild

ing

s ar

e no

t su

bje

cted

to

dis

crim

inat

ory

har

assm

ent:

!

s. 2

(2) –

Eve

ry p

erso

n w

ho o

ccup

ies

acco

mm

od

atio

n ha

s a

right

to

free

do

m f

rom

har

assm

ent

by

the

land

lord

or

agen

t o

f th

e la

ndlo

rd

o

r b

y an

occ

upan

t o

f th

e sa

me

bui

ldin

g b

ecau

se o

f ra

ce, a

nces

try,

pla

ce o

f o

rigin

, co

lour

, et

hnic

orig

in,

citiz

ensh

ip,

cree

d,

sexu

al

o

rient

atio

n,

gen

der

id

entit

y,

gen

der

ex

pre

ssio

n,

age,

m

arita

l

stat

us, f

amily

sta

tus,

dis

abili

ty o

r the

rece

ipt o

f so

cial

ass

ista

nce.

! In li

ne w

ith y

our

ob

ligat

ion

und

er t

he C

od

e, I

am a

skin

g y

ou

to in

form

N

ame

of o

ther

tena

nt t

hat

wha

t th

ey a

re d

oin

g is

ag

ains

t th

e la

w a

nd

will

no

t be

tole

rate

d in

the

bui

ldin

g. I

am

ask

ing

tha

t yo

u p

rovi

de

Nam

e of

oth

er te

nant

with

a c

op

y o

f the

bui

ldin

g’s

hum

an r

ight

s p

olic

y.

! If yo

u ar

e un

fam

iliar

with

yo

ur o

blig

atio

ns a

s a

land

lord

und

er t

he

Co

de,

the

po

licy

on

hum

an r

ight

s an

d re

ntal

ho

usin

g c

an b

e fo

und

on

the

Ont

ario

Hum

an R

ight

s C

om

mis

sio

n’s

web

site

: htt

p:/

/w

ww

.ohr

c.o

n.ca

/.

! Than

k yo

u fo

r yo

ur a

tten

tion

to t

his

mat

ter.

Plea

se t

ake

imm

edia

te a

ctio

n re

gar

din

g t

his

issu

e, a

nd I

wo

uld

ap

pre

ciat

e a

writ

ten

resp

ons

e to

thi

s le

tter

with

in t

he c

om

ing

wee

k.

! Sinc

erel

y,

! Enriq

ue

Dat

e

2324


W

here

els

e ca

n yo

u go

for

info

rmat

ion

and

help

?! Th

e H

uman

Rig

hts

Lega

l Sup

port

Cen

tre

Tel:

416-

597-

4900

Toll F

ree:

1-8

66-6

25-5

179

TTY:

416

-597

-490

3TT

Y To

ll Fre

e: 1

-866

612

-862

7 M

onda

y, Tu

esda

y, W

edne

sday

and

Frid

ay: 9

am

to 5

pm

; Thu

rsda

y: 2

pm

to 6

pm

. Con

sider

visi

ting

the

web

site

befo

re c

alling

: http

://w

ww.

hrlsc

.on.

ca

! The

Hum

an R

ight

s Tr

ibun

al o

f Ont

ario

G

ener

al In

quirie

s ca

n be

mad

e by

: Te

l: 41

6-32

6-13

12

Toll-

free:

1-8

66-5

98-0

322

TT

Y: 4

16-3

26-2

027

TT

Y to

ll-fre

e: 1

-866

-607

-124

0 Em

ail: h

rto.td

po@

onta

rio.c

a W

eb: h

ttp://

ww

w.sjt

o.go

v.on.

ca/h

rto

! The

Ont

ario

Hum

an R

ight

s C

omm

issi

on

Info

rmat

ion

Line:

416

-326

-951

1 TT

Y: 4

16-3

14-0

503

Web

: http

://w

ww.

ohrc

.on.

ca/

Email

: inf

o@oh

rc.o

n.ca

! *S

ee p

age

14 o

f this

reso

urce

for i

nfor

mat

ion

abou

t the

se

thre

e or

ganiz

atio

ns.

! ! Hou

sing

Hel

p Ho

using

Help

Cen

tres

can

assis

t you

in fin

ding

a u

nit

that

mee

ts y

our n

eeds

. Find

you

r loc

al Ce

ntre

at

http

s://fi

ndho

using

help

.ca

! Land

lord

and

Ten

ant B

oard

(LTB

) Th

e LT

B pr

ovid

es in

form

atio

n on

resid

entia

l ren

tal u

nits

and

reso

lves

disp

utes

be

twee

n m

ost

resid

entia

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Module 6

s T u D e N T h a N D o u T A FOOT IN THE DOOR | 153

FOR RENT! – DRAFTINg A RENTAL HOusINg ADvERTIsEmENTUsing the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Writing a Fair Rental Housing Ad handout as a guide, draft a fair and non-discriminatory ad based on the description of the rental property below.

PRoPERTY FoR RENT• TherentalpropertyisacondominiumlocatedinamajorCanadiancity(thecityisyourchoice)

• Itisahigh-risebuildingwith30floors–therentalpropertyisonthe10thfloor

• Itisaone-bedroom,one-bathroomapartment,butrelativelysmallinsize;thereisacommunallaundryser-viceonthemainfloor

• Therentis$900permonth,notincludingheatandhydro

• Thereisacommunalpartyroominthecondominiumonthe3rdflooraswellasacommunalgym

• Therearetwobusrouteswithinwalkingdistanceofthecondominium

• Theareaisbothcommercial(i.e.,filledwithbusinesses)andresidential(i.e.,housing);theresidentialareaiscomprised mostly of young couples

• Thereisahospital,communitycentre,daycare,andelementaryschoolaccessiblebybusroutes

• Therearetwoparkswithinwalkingdistanceofthecondominium

Inyourad,youmightwanttomentionthatyourequireyourtenant’sproofofincome. Refer to the Writing a Fair Rental Housing Adguidetoseewhattypesofinformationyoucanaskfor.


activity 2: the Right to adequate Housing and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Materials• Copies of Adequate Housing, Positive Rights,

and the Charter (one per student)

• Copies of Debating the Issue – Adequate Housing and the Charter (one per student)

Teaching and Learning Strategies1. In small groups, have students create a mind map

around the phrase ‘Right to Housing’. Take up as a class by creating a larger mind map on the board. Discuss with students whether they think there should be a right to housing in Canada and what they think ‘adequate housing’ would look like.

2. Have students watch CERA’s 12-minute video called Housing and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, available here: https://vimeo.com/38812738.

3. Using a teacher- or student-centred reading strategy, have students review the handout, Adequate Housing, Positive Rights, and the Charter. Clarify any questions and check for understanding.

4. Using the structure in the handout Debating the Issue - Adequate Housing and the Charter as a guide, hold a class debate on whether ss. 7 and 15 of the Charter should be interpreted to include a right to adequate housing, and in turn, if there should be a positive obligation on the government to provide access to adequate housing. Use the fact scenario in the handout as the basis for the debate. This can be done in small groups or by dividing the entire class in half. In advance of the debate, give students some time to prepare their arguments and anticipate those of the opposing side. Encourage them to draw on the case law and information they have learned. At the end of the debate, invite students to give their own opinion on whether they think adequate housing should be guaranteed by the Charter.

5. Debrief the debate by having students consider the Tanudjaja v Attorney General (Canada) case, which the fact scenario is based on. Tanudjaja brought a Charter challenge to Canadian courts, arguing that the government’s failure to address homelessness and inadequate housing issues violated the rights to life, liberty, and security of the person under s. 7, and equality rights under s. 15. Have students discuss the questions in small groups or as a class.

Extension Screen for your students the National Film Board of Canada documentary, “No Place Called Home,” available here: https://www.nfb.ca/film/no_place_called_home.Thisdocumentaryprovidesanintimatelookinsideone Canadian family’s struggle with poverty as the family of eight move from town to town in search of affordable housing.

https://vimeo.com/38812738

https://vimeo.com/38812738

https://www.nfb.ca/film/no_place_called_home


Module 6


ADEQuATE HOusINg, POsITIvE RIgHTs, AND THE CharterInCanada,therighttoadequatehousingisacomplexissue.Canadahasrecognizedarighttoadequatehousingthroughinternationalhumanrightsinstruments;howeverhomelessCanadiansarenotbeingaffordedthisrightand, in light of recent case law, they do not have access to a mechanism to claim this right. Many people remain homeless, or if they do secure rental housing, it may not be under the best conditions. As such, whether housing should be protected under the Constitution is a hotly debated issue in Canada.

CANADA’S INTERNATIoNAl CoMMITMENT To ADEquATE HouSINgThe International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) is a document that the United Nations createdin1966.Article11ofthedocumentrecognizesthatarighttoadequatehousingdoesexist,andthisrightmust be respected by the countries that ratified (i.e., signed) the ICESCR.Article11states,

“The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living for himself and his family, including adequate food, clothing and housing, and the continuous improvementoflivingconditions.TheStatesPartieswilltakeappropriatestepstoensuretherealization of this right…”1

Canada is one of the “States Parties” mentioned in the above provision. Therefore, when Canada ratified the ICESCR, it committed itself to the document’s mandate. However, the right to adequate housing has yet to be realized in Canada.

WHAT DoES “ADEquATE” HouSINg MEAN?The right to adequate housing is broader than a right to be housed (i.e., simply to have a roof over your head). Infact,Article11oftheICESCR, specifies the need for “adequate” housing for all people. So, what’s the difference? TheUnitedNations’CommitteeonEconomic,Social,andCulturalRights(CESCR)outlinedprinciplesthatmakehousing “adequate.” 2 The principles that the CESCR identified include3 :

Security of Tenure – This gives people legal protection against forced eviction, harassment, and other threats.Itisavailabletorenters,peoplelivinginco-operativehousing,peoplewholease,andinemergencyhousing/informal settlements.4

Availability of Services, Materials, Facilities, & Infrastructure – This means that an adequate house musthavefacilitiesessentialforhealth,security,comfort,andnutrition.Examplesincludesafedrinkingwater,energy, sanitation and washing facilities, garbage disposal, emergency services, etc.

Affordability – This means that household and housing financial costs should be at a level that does not compromiseotherbasicneedsinaperson’slife.Rentersshouldnotbesubjectedtounreasonablerentlevels/increases.

Habitability – This means that housing should be habitable and livable, with adequate space and protection from the cold, damp, heat, rain, wind, or other threats to health.

1International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights,16December1966,993UNTS3art11(enteredintoforce3January1976,accessionbyCanada19May1976)[ICESCR].2 Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, General Comment No 4: The right to adequate housing (art 11(1) of the Covenant, 1January1992.Thefulldocumentisavailablehere:<http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2fCESCR%2fGEC%2f4759&Lang=en>.3Ibid at 8(a)-(g). The above have been slightly modified for the purposes of this module.4 Ibid, at 8(a).

http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2fCESCR%2fGEC%2f4759&Lang=en

http://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/treatybodyexternal/Download.aspx?symbolno=INT%2fCESCR%2fGEC%2f4759&Lang=en


Accessibility – This means that everyone must be given full and sustainable access to adequate housing, and it should secure peace and dignity.

Location – This means that housing must be located with available access to employment options, health-care services, schools, child-care centres, and other facilities. Also, housing should not be built on polluted sites or be overly-exposedtocontaminants.

Cultural Adequacy – This means housing should be built with appropriate materials and in a way to allow expressionofculturalidentityanddiversityofhousing,andshouldnotbesacrificedduringanydevelopment.

THE oNTARIo HuMAN RIgHTS CoMMISSIoN (oHRC) AND THE oNTARIo Human RigHts Code

InOntario,theOHRCisastrongproponentoftherighttoadequatehousing.Ithassubmittedseveraldemandsto the provincial and federal governments to recognize an adequate housing right. Additionally, the OHRC has voicedmanyconcernsoverCanada’sfailedcommitmenttorespectArticle11oftheICESCR.

ThelegislationthattheOHRCreliesoninitsworkiscalledtheOntarioHuman Rights Code (the Code). While the Code does not guarantee a right to adequate housing, it strives to offer protections to people in the rental housingmarket.Forexample,theCode guarantees the following to renters:

Also,theOHRChasitsownpolicyonhumanrightsandrentalhousingthatexpandsontheprotectionsintheCode.6 While the policy is not law, it is considered to be a very credible document relied on by the Ontario HumanRightsTribunalwhenithearscasesabouthumanrightsviolationsintherentalhousingcontext.

BACkgRouND oN THE Canadian CHaRteR of RigHts and fReedoms

The Charter was enshrined in Canada’s Constitution with the passage of the Constitution Act, 1982.Itgovernsthe relationship between individuals and the government, ensuring that governments cannot pass laws or enact policies that infringe unfairly upon our rights and freedoms. The Charter, therefore, acts as a restraint on government power. Prior to the Charter, there was no guarantee in Canada that rights and freedoms would notbetakenawaybylegislation.WehadtheCanadian Bill of Rights, but as a statute, it could be amended or repealedbyParliament.Inotherwords,ifagivengovernmentwasopposedtoaparticularrightorfreedom,itcould simply vote in Parliament to have it changed or removed. By enshrining these rights and freedoms in the Constitution, they cannot simply be repealed by ordinary acts of Parliament or provincial legislatures.

5Human Rights Code, RSO1990,cH.19,s2(2)[theCode].6 Ontario Human Rights Commission, Policy on Human Rights and Rental Housing, (Toronto: Ontario Human Rights Commission, 2009).Thefulldocumentisavailablehere:<http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-human-rights-and-rental-housing>.

“Every person who occupies accommodation has a right to freedom from harassment by the landlord or agent of the landlord or by an occupant of the same building because of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship,creed,sexualorientation,genderidentity,genderexpression,age,marital status, family status, disability or the receipt of public assistance.” 5

http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/policy-human-rights-and-rental-housing


Module 6


The Constitution is the highest law in all of Canada, and any law or government action must comply with all of its parts, including the Charter. As you can imagine, this is particularly important in the right to adequate housing debate.IfaccesstoadequatehousingisrecognizedbyrightsenshrinedintheCharter, all levels of government, its actions, and laws must respect that.

SECTIoNS 7 AND 15(1) oF THE CHaRteRHousingrightsadvocateshavearguedthatsections7and15oftheCharter are opportunities to recognize access toadequatehousingasaright.Sections7and15(1)oftheCharter read as follows:

Life, liberty and security of person

7. Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and the right not to be deprived thereofexceptinaccordancewiththeprinciplesoffundamentaljustice.

Equality before and under law and equal protection and benefit of the law

15.(1)Everyindividualisequalbeforeandunderthelawandhastherighttotheequalprotectionandequal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race,nationalorethnicorigin,colour,religion,sex,ageormentalorphysicaldisability.

Itisarguedthattherighttoaccessadequatehousingshouldbeprotectedthrough“securityoftheperson”unders.7andthatpovertyshouldberecognizedasagroundofdiscriminationalongsiderace,colour,sex,etc.

WHAT ARE PoSITIvE RIgHTS?7 Positive rights demand that the Canadian government act in a particular way, or do something, for individuals. Suchrightscompelthegovernmenttotakeapositiveactioninorderforindividualstoexerciseandrealizetheir rights and freedoms (as opposed to refraining from doing something). There are very few positive rights in Canada’s Charter.Oneexampleissection23,whichdemandsthatprovincialgovernmentsprovideaccesstoeducationinEnglishorFrenchinlocationswheresuchminoritylanguagecommunitiesexist,orinplaceswherethere is high demand for English or French language instruction.

Negative rights, in contrast, protect individuals from the government over-stepping its bounds and acting in particular ways. Such rights prevent the government from intervening and violating individuals’ rights and freedoms. As noted, the Charter acts as a restraint on government power, and this captures what is meant by negative rights. Negative rights differ from positive rights because the government usually respects negative rightsbydoingnothingatall.AnexampleofanegativerightfoundintheCharterissection15,whichprohibitsthe government and its laws from discriminating against people based on their particular characteristics. Section7oftheCharterisanotherexampleofanegativerightinthatitprohibitsthegovernmentanditslawsfrom interfering with individuals in ways that endanger their life, liberty, and security (unless it is done in a way thatisconsistentwiththeprinciplesoffundamentaljustice).

7ThissectiononpositiveandnegativerightsisadaptedfromTheCentreforConstitutionalRights(2013-2015),online: UniversityofAlberta:<http://ualawccsprod.srv.ualberta.ca/ccs/index.php/pr/534-positive-and-negative-rights>.

http://ualawccsprod.srv.ualberta.ca/ccs/index.php/pr/534-positive-and-negative-rights


HoW Do PoSITIvE RIgHTS RElATE To THE ACCESS To ADEquATE HouSINg DEBATE?Therecognitionofpositiverightsundersection7oftheCharter is vital in the access to adequate housing debate. Ifthelawrecognizedthataccesstoadequatehousingwasrequiredtoensureaperson’srighttolife,liberty,and security of the person, the government would have a positive obligation to ensure that access to adequate housingisavailable.Inotherwords,iflife,liberty,andsecurityofthepersonisalsoapositiveright,thenthegovernment would have to act to ensure this right is met for all individuals.

Canadiancourtshavebeenhesitanttocharacterizesection7asapositiveright.Historically,thecourtshavecharacterized “positive right” issues (i.e., demanding that the government to do something) as policy matters. Canadiancourtshavestatedthatpolicyissuesareforthegovernmentandpolicymakerstodecide—notthecourts.

Althoughsection7oftheCharter has continued to be characterized as a negative right, some cases have pushed Canadian courts to consider whether the Charter should also protect positive rights. While these cases are not always successful,andoftenverycomplex,theyrepresentkeydevelopmentsinthelawonaccesstoadequatehousing.

GosselinvQuebec(AG)(2002)8

LouiseGosselinbroughtanactionagainsttheprovinceofQuebectochallenge a social assistance plan that she thought was unfair to welfare recipientsunder30yearsold.Inthe1980s,Quebec’ssocialassistanceplanpaidwelfarerecipientsunder30lessthanhalfofwhatwaspaidtoolderrecipients.Gosselinarguedthatthisplanviolatedhersection7Charter right to security of the person. More specifically, she argued that “security” must include the right for a person to receive a particular level of support from the government to meet basic needs.9

Gosselin’slegalchallengewasunsuccessful.TheSupremeCourtofCanada(SCC)statedthatalthoughsection7doesprotectlife,liberty,andsecurityofthe person, the section does not place an obligation on governments to provide for these rights.However,ChiefJusticeBeverlyMcLachlinmadeanimportant proclamation in the Gosselincase;shesaidthatone day,section7may include positive rights, at which point governments will have positive obligations to ensure that the right to life, liberty, and security of the person are met.

LANDmARk POsITIvE RIgHTs CAsEs

8 Gosselin v Quebec (AttorneyGeneral),2002SCC84,[2002]4SCR429[Gosselin].9 InGosselin, LouiseGosselinalsoarguedherequalityrightsunders.15ofthe Charter were infringed because the social assistance plan discriminated based on age.


Module 6


ChaoullivQuebec(AG)(2005)10

Dr.Chaoulli—aprivatehealthcaredoctor—challengedaQuebeclawthatprohibited people from obtaining private health insurance for services already available in the public health care system.11 Chaoulli argued that the prohibition violated the rights to life and security of the person under both the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms and the Canadian Charterbecauseitsubjectedpeopletothelongandinevitablewaittimesofthepublichealthsystem.Inturn,peoplecoulddiewhilewaitingonthepublic list and their security would be affected because of added stress and physical suffering.

Inafourtothreedecision,theSCCheldthatthelawsviolatedQuebecers’righttolifeandsecurityofpersonundertheQuebecCharter. Only three of thesevenjudgesalsofoundthatthelawsviolatedsection7oftheCanadianCharter.Assuch,thisrulingisbindinginQuebeconly.ThetrioofjudgesconcludedthattheQuebeclawsallowonlythe“veryrich”toobtainprivatehealth care in order to avoid delays in the public system. The comments of thethreejudgessuggestthatasimilarchangemightbepossibleintherestof Canada in a future case. This case has been very controversial, especially because many people consider Canada’s public health care system to be a defining characteristic of our nation.

Victoria (City) v Adams (2008)12

TheCityofVictoria,BritishColumbiabroughtaninjunction(i.e.,aremedyfrom the court to force people to act/refrain from doing something) againsthomelesspeoplelivinginaspacecalledCridgePark.TheinjunctionprohibitedhomelesspeoplefrommakingtemporarystructuresandsheltersintheparkbecauseitwouldviolateCitybylaws.NatalieAdams,ahomelesspersonlivinginVictoria,arguedthattheCity’sbylawsviolatedhersection7Charter rights.

Adams’legalchallengewassuccessful.Inalandmarkdecision,MadamJusticeRossstatedthattheprohibition on makeshift structures imposes on homeless people severe health and safety risks that violate the life, liberty, and security of the person. she also noted that shelter [is] a necessary precondition to security and liberty of the person. This case is instrumental in recognizing that the need for basic shelter is connected to one’slife,liberty,andsecurityofthepersonundersection7oftheCharter.

LANDmARk POsITIvE RIgHTs CAsEs

10Chaoulli v Quebec (Attorney General), 2005SCC35,[2005]1SCR791[Chaoulli].ItisimportanttoknowthatChaoulli is a caseabouttheQuebecCharter of Human Rights and Freedoms and not the Canadian Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. TheQuebecCharter mirrors the Canadian Charter in terms of its rights.11The phonetic pronunciation of “Chaoulli” is “shy-u-lee.”12Victoria (City) v Adams, 2008BCSC1363,299DLR(4th)193.


DEBATINg THE IssuE - ADEQuATE HOusINg AND THE CHARTER Holdaclassdebateontheissueofwhetheradequatehousingshouldbeprotectedunderss.7and15oftheCharter, and in turn, if there should be a positive obligation on the government to provide access to adequate housing. Use the fact scenario below as the basis for the debate. This can be done in small groups or by dividing the entire class in half. Use the chart below to help prepare your arguments and anticipate those of the opposing side. Prepare questions and rebuttals accordingly.

FACT SCENARIOJen,Ben,Ansa,andJanarguethattheCharter imposes a positive obligation on the government to ensure access to adequate housing (i.e., affordable, accessible, etc.). They argue that inaccessibility to adequate housing and homelessness issues have worsened in Ontario and Canada for two reasons:

(1)Thenegativechangesmadetolaws,programs,andservicesthathavelimitedfunding,socialassistance,andoverallaccesstoadequatehousing;and

(2) Both the provincial and federal governments’ failure and inaction to implement and monitor effective housing-based strategies.

The four applicants want a Canadian court to declare that these changes and failures that affect access to adequate housing and homelessness violate:

• Theirsection7Charterrighttolife,liberty,andsecurityoftheperson;and.

• Theirsection15(1)Charter equality right, because the changes and inaction have sustained issues of inequality and discrimination toward homeless and poor people in Canada.

Applicants Profiles• Jenisayoung,singlemotheronsocialassistancewholivesinprecarioushousingwithhertwochildren.

She has been on the waiting-list for subsidized housing for over two years.

• Benwasdiagnosedwithcancerandasaresultwasnolongerabletowork.Helosthisapartmentbecausehe could not pay the rent. He lives on the streets and in shelters, and has been on the waiting-list for subsi-dized housing for four years.

• Ansawasseverelydisabledinaworkaccident.Twoofhischildrenarealsodisabled;oneisinawheelchair.Heandhisfamilyofsixliveinatwo-bedroomapartmentthatisinaccessibleandunsafe.Hehasbeenonthe waiting-list for subsidized housing for four years.

• Janandhertwoyoungchildrenbecamehomelesswhenherspousediedsuddenly.Shehaslivedinseveralshelters over the years, and even on the street. She was forced to place her children in her parents’ care. Shehasfinallyobtainedhousing,butspends64%ofhersmallmonthlyincomeonrentandisindangerofbecoming homeless again.

DEBATE PRoPoSITIoNAdequatehousingshouldbeprotectedunderss.7and15oftheCharter, and in turn, there should be a positive obligation on the government to provide access to adequate housing.


Module 6


DEBATE PREPARATION

ARguMENTS IN FAvouR ARguMENTS AgAINST


DEBATE sTRuCTuRE One team argues in support of the proposition and one team against it.

1. Thesupportingpositionpresentstheirarguments(5-7minutes)• Giveagoodintroductionthatgetstheopposingteam’sinterestandattention• State your main points, giving evidence and reasoning for your arguments • Giveastrongconclusion

2. Theopposingpositionquestionsthesupportingposition(3-5minutes)• Askquestionsaboutthesupportingteam’sposition• Prepare questions to challenge them in advance

3. Theopposingpositionpresentstheirarguments(5-7minutes)• Giveagoodintroductionthatgetsthesupportingteam’sinterestandattention• State your main points, giving evidence and reasoning for your arguments • Questionthesupportingposition• Giveastrongconclusion

4. Thesupportingpositionquestionstheopposingposition(3-5minutes)• Askquestionsaboutthesupportingteam’sposition• Prepare questions to challenge them in advance

5. Thesupportingpositionpresentstheirrebuttal(5minutes)• Restate and strengthen your position • Identifyhowyourargumentisstrongerthantheopposingposition• Summarize your case and give a strong conclusion

6. Theopposingpositionpresentstheirrebuttal(5minutes)• Restate and strengthen your position• Identifyhowyourargumentisstrongerthanthesupportingposition• Summarize your case and give a strong conclusion


Module 6


DEBRIEF

THE tanudjaja CASE1 The fact scenario you used in your debate is based on a real Canadian case called Tanudjaja v the Attorney General (Canada).

Jen,Ben,Ansa,andJanarepseudonymsfortherealpeopleintheTanudjajacase:JenniferTanudjaja,BrianDuBourdieu,AnsarMahmood,andJaniceArsenault.Thesefourpeople,withtheCentreforEqualityRightsinAccommodation (CERA), submitted an application to have their case heard before the Ontario Superior Court. They wanted the court to declare that changes to legislation, programs, and services, plus the inaction and failure of the provincial and federal governments to implement a housing-based strategy has led to an increase in homelessness and inadequate housing. The applicants argued that these changes and failures violated their Charterrightstolife,liberty,andsecurityofthepersonunders.7andtheirequalityrightsunders.15becauseofsustained discrimination against them as homeless and poor people.

TheGovernmentsofOntarioandCanadabroughtamotiontostriketheapplicationbeforeanyevidencecouldbeheardbythecourt.ThemotiontostrikewasgrantedbytheSuperiorCourtandtheapplicationwasdismissed.Theapplicants’casewasdeemedtobeoutsideofthecourt’sjurisdiction.Thecourttooktheviewthattheissuewasapolicydecisionbestmadebyelectedgovernmentofficialsandpolicymakers,ratherthanaquestion of law.

The applicants appealed the decision to the Ontario Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal upheld the lower court’sdecisiontonothearthecase.Themajorityjudgesemphasizedthat“Thereisnopositiveobligationraisedby the Charter that requires Canada and Ontario to provide for affordable, adequate, accessible housing…”

TheapplicantsappliedforleavetotheSupremeCourtofCanada,whichwasdeniedinJune2015.Withnofurther recourse in the courts, the TanudjajacasewillnotbeheardinadomesticcourtinCanada.Despitethis,the Tanudjajacasesparkedacriticalpublicdialogueaboutwhetheraccesstoadequatehousingshouldberecognized by the Charter.

Discussion Questions• Do you think the four applicants had a strong

case? Why or why not?

• Do you think access to adequate housing is more of a policy issue than a legal issue? Why?

• Do you think Canadian courts should hear cases when governments and policymakers fail to address pressing social policy issues? Why or why not?

• Do you think that section 7 Charter rights, especially security of the person, supports a positive obligation for access to adequate housing? What about the right to life?

• Do you think poverty and/or homelessness should be recognized as a grounds of discrimination under section 15 of the Charter?

1Tanudjaja v Attorney General (Canada), 2013ONSC1878; Tanudjaja v Canada (Attorney General), 2014ONCA852.

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