Commission Holds Consultations Across Province
HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION--Commission Holds Consultations Across Province
The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commissions and the Office of the Ombudsman are seeking public input for an organizational review of their respective roles and responsibilities.
A series of public meetings across the province over the next several weeks will focus on the commission''s discussion paper, Moving Forward With Human Rights in Nova Scotia.
"Participation from Nova Scotians in these consultations is critical," said Mayann Francis, executive director of the Human Rights Commission and interim provincial ombudsman. "Their input will allow the commission and the Office of the Ombudsman to improve services to the public."
The consultations are open to all Nova Scotians, but may be of particular interest to First Nations, persons with disabilities, African Nova Scotians and women.
The sessions will be led by Dr. Fred Wien, acting director of the Maritime School of Social Work at Dalhousie University; Dr. Viola Robinson, a former commissioner with the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in Canada; and Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard, in- coming director of the Maritime School of Social Work.
"The consultations will deal with important issues concerning how the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission organizes itself in relationship to other provincial agencies in the area of social equality and human rights," said Dr. Wien. "I hope everyone interested in these questions will give us the benefit of their views by participating in this consultation process."
The discussion paper poses questions for public consultation. It includes research from human rights commissions across Canada and information from interviews with more than 40 stakeholders.
The paper is available in PDF format on the commission’s Web site at www.gov.ns.ca/humanrights/. Copies are also available at public libraries across the province.
People are encouraged to express their views by calling toll-free 1-800-273-0041, or by e-mailing [email protected] .
The paper is the first phase of the organizational review. Public commentary from the discussion paper will serve as research for the second phase.
The focus of the second phase will be the organizations’ roles, responsibilities and structures and ways they could be more closely aligned with agencies, boards and commissions exercising similar mandates.
The second phase will also look at a recommendation from the report of the Task Force on Government Services to the Nova Scotian Black Community to form a special office for African Nova Scotians. In addition, it will consider a report by an interdepartmental committee that responded to the task force’s recommendations.
The public meetings will take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the following dates and at the following locations:
April 23 Antigonish St. Ninian’s Place, 120 St. Ninian St.
April 24 Sydney Nova Scotia Community College, Marconi Campus
April 25 Baddeck Bell Museum, 559 Chebucto St.
May 2 Kentville Nova Scotia Community College, Kingstec Campus
May 3 Digby Digby Legion, 236 Belcher St.
May 4 Yarmouth Nova Scotia Community College, Burridge Campus
May 7 Bridgewater Nova Scotia Community College, Lunenburg Campus
May 8 Amherst Amherst Fire Hall, 62 Albion St.
May 17 Halifax/Dartmouth Nova Scotia Community College, Institute of Technology Campus 5685 Leeds St., Halifax
May 22 Truro Nova Scotia Community College, Truro Campus
The following meetings will take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the following locations:
April 25 Eskasoni Cultural Centre, Eskasoni High School
May 9 Indian Brook Shubenacadie First Nation (Indian Brook), Band Council Building