New Appointments Made to Human Rights Commission

The provincial government filled several vacancies on the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission by naming three new commissioners to three-year terms.

The appointments were announced today, Nov. 10, by Murray Scott, Minister responsible for the Human Rights Act.

Each appointee will be serving for the first time as a commissioner. They include Robert Hannigan, a retired school principal from Inverness, Frank Likely, a church minister and consultant from Springhill and K. Martha MacDonald, a former town councillor and deputy mayor from Stellarton.

"The work of the human rights commission will be enriched by the experience and dedication of these individuals," said Mr. Scott in announcing the appointments.

Each appointee brings a unique set of skills and experience:

• Robert Hannigan served as a principal and teacher in Inverness for almost thirty years and recently was the chair of the Nova Scotia Round Table on Child Care. He has served his community in a number of capacities including as a member of the Board of Governors of Cape Breton University, the Family Services of Eastern Nova Scotia Advisory Committee and the board of the Nova Scotia Highland Village Association.

• Frank Likely is a former chair of the Springhill Board of Police Commissioners and is the chaplain to the Springhill Police Service. Mr. Likely has served on numerous boards including the All Saints Community Health Care Foundation, the Canadian Police Chaplains Association and the Pictou County Help Line. He has also worked in the media as host of a weekly radio program and was named Kinsman of the Year in 1983 by the Charlottetown Kinsman Club.

• K. Martha MacDonald has been active as an elected municipal politician and has a background in dispute resolution. She served as deputy mayor of Stellarton between 2001 and 2004 having been first elected to town council in 2000. She holds a certificate in municipal administration from Henson College and is certified in advanced negotiation and mediation by Dalhousie University. Prior to entering municipal politics Ms. MacDonald was a nurse and was involved with the Victorian Order of Nurses.

Commissioners of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission are responsible for policy and have the authority to approve settlements of complaints, discontinue matters, or refer them to a board of inquiry for an independent hearing. Commissioners are not appointed to represent particular groups but uphold all the protected characteristics set out in the Human Rights Act.