Public Information Sessions on Political Affiliation

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION--Public Information Sessions on Political Affiliation

As part of its commitment after the settlement of the case between H. Archibald Kaiser and the Executive Council of Nova Scotia, the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission is holding public information sessions on political affiliation. The sessions will take place in communities across the province beginning Friday, Oct. 25, at the Alderney Gate Public Library in Dartmouth.

"This was a landmark agreement," said Mayann Francis, CEO of the Human Rights Commission. "The commission is moving forward on its commitment under the agreement to increase public awareness of issues of discrimination based on political belief, affiliation or activity. We hope the public information sessions will provide a forum for an informed and stimulating discussion around this issue."

The topic for the sessions is political discrimination and why it is a significant public policy issue. The sessions aim to increase the public's knowledge about political affiliation as a prohibited ground of discrimination under Nova Scotia's Human Rights Act. Human rights officers, along with public policy experts, will lead the seminars.

Sessions will be held between noon and 1 p.m. on Fridays in the following locations:

• Oct. 25: Alderney Gate Public Library, Dartmouth;
• Nov. 1: Nova Scotia Community College, Lawrencetown, Annapolis Co;
• Nov. 8: University College of Cape Breton, Sydney;
• Nov. 15: Nova Scotia Community College, Stellarton; and
• Nov. 15: Université Saint-Anne, Church Point.

The complete settlement agreement can be found on the commission's Web site, at <a href="http://www.gov.ns.ca/humanrights/">www.gov.ns.ca/humanrights/<a> .