Opposition Justice Critic Kelvin Parsons says the Human Rights Commission should be an independent office of the House of Assembly, and not report directly to the Department of Justice.
Parsons says he has submitted this recommendation to the public consultation team reviewing Newfoundland and Labrador's Human Rights Code.
A news release notes that the Auditor General's 2008 report on Departments and Crown Agencies outlined a number of concerns with the operations of the Human Rights Commission. This included a 57 per cent increase in caseload, a backlog of complaints dating back several years and procedural problems with the way in which complaints are investigated and monitored.
"Public confidence in the protection of human rights in this province relies heavily on the appearance of the commission's independence," Parsons said. "While the department of justice may have policies and procedures in place to ensure the independence of the commission, the fact that 43 human rights complaint investigations involved a government department or agency raises legitimate concerns of conflict."
Parsons noted that human resource shortages were clearly the number one issue for the Human Rights Commission over the past five years. However, because the commission is a division of the Department of Justice, any requests for increased funding would not be disclosed to members of the House of Assembly or the general public.
Opposition urges independent status for Human Rights Commission
- Published on March 9th, 2009
- Published on July 1st, 2010
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Staff ~ The Telegram
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Comments
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- Sandra
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:28:17
Nasty Nate you impoverished soul, you know not of what you speak, and only choose to engage in inflammatory statements and bellicose remarks. It seems Graham has you pegged correctly as a paranoid individual. It shows in every comment you make in the Telegram online. For your information, because you obviously do not know, the Human Rights Commission is Quasi-constitutional and supercedes provincial and federal gov'ts and laws. This is recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada. Do your homework before you emit your verbal diahrea please.
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- Nasty
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:25:19
Graham my dear boy. The Human Rights Commission can not do its job with any government intervention. Have a look at the Act. Seems you like to support dictatorships, maybe a move to Sudan is in your future.
Human Rights Commission should be an independent office of the House of Assembly, and not report directly to the Department of Justice, which Danny appoints his pawn as Minister. I say he has a looksee in everything, and has neither need nor rights under the Act.
Have a read my dear boy of the Act, or stick to your support for the Nurses. -
- Graham
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:24:32
Danny has the final say in Human Rights cases ? Nasty Nate - what's wrong with you ? You're a paranoid delusional freak show.
Again, thanks for the chuckle ;) -
- Nasty
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:16:46
No, really! How can it work if Danny has the final say on matters such as this?
Government intervention at this level is just wrong. Whats wrong with people these days anyway? -
- Edward
- - July 2nd, 2010 at 13:09:34
The worst thing they could do is make the Human Rights Commission independent from government. Just look at what these commissions have become in other provinces - nothing but inquisitorial witch-hunters and thought police sticking their noses where they don't belong. Look at the whole MacLean's debacle as an example of HRC's gone wild.
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- Sandra
- - July 1st, 2010 at 20:16:13
Nasty Nate you impoverished soul, you know not of what you speak, and only choose to engage in inflammatory statements and bellicose remarks. It seems Graham has you pegged correctly as a paranoid individual. It shows in every comment you make in the Telegram online. For your information, because you obviously do not know, the Human Rights Commission is Quasi-constitutional and supercedes provincial and federal gov'ts and laws. This is recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada. Do your homework before you emit your verbal diahrea please.
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- Nasty
- - July 1st, 2010 at 20:11:31
Graham my dear boy. The Human Rights Commission can not do its job with any government intervention. Have a look at the Act. Seems you like to support dictatorships, maybe a move to Sudan is in your future.
Human Rights Commission should be an independent office of the House of Assembly, and not report directly to the Department of Justice, which Danny appoints his pawn as Minister. I say he has a looksee in everything, and has neither need nor rights under the Act.
Have a read my dear boy of the Act, or stick to your support for the Nurses. -
- Graham
- - July 1st, 2010 at 20:10:17
Danny has the final say in Human Rights cases ? Nasty Nate - what's wrong with you ? You're a paranoid delusional freak show.
Again, thanks for the chuckle ;) -
- Nasty
- - July 1st, 2010 at 19:56:55
No, really! How can it work if Danny has the final say on matters such as this?
Government intervention at this level is just wrong. Whats wrong with people these days anyway? -
- Edward
- - July 1st, 2010 at 19:44:53
The worst thing they could do is make the Human Rights Commission independent from government. Just look at what these commissions have become in other provinces - nothing but inquisitorial witch-hunters and thought police sticking their noses where they don't belong. Look at the whole MacLean's debacle as an example of HRC's gone wild.
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