April 14, 2010

NDP PRIVATE MEMBER’S BILL WOULD PROTECT HOMELESS, VULNERABLE

BC OFFICIAL OPPOSITION NEWS RELEASE

April 14, 2010

NDP PRIVATE MEMBER’S BILL WOULD PROTECT HOMELESS, VULNERABLE

VANCOUVER – A private member’s bill proposed by New Democrat MLA Jenny Kwan would amend the B.C. Human Rights Code to strengthen protections for the homeless.

Kwan’s bill, the Protection of the Homeless Act, would amend the B.C. Human Rights Code to include the term “social condition” as prohibited grounds for discrimination.

“All members of our society deserve to be protected from discrimination, but unfortunately many of the most vulnerable members of society find they face discrimination simply because they are poor or homeless,” said Kwan. “This amendment would help protect homeless and low-income individuals in our community from discrimination by ensuring that they are protected by the Human Rights Code.”

Kwan was joined by community activists and representatives of organisations that work with the vulnerable, including Reverend Ric Matthews from the First United Church, UBC Law Professor Margot Young, Seth Klein from the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Lobat Sadrehashemi from the Pivot Legal Society, and Judy Graves from the City of Vancouver.

“This bill would bring British Columbia in line with other jurisdictions across the country,” said Kwan, who noted that Quebec, New Brunswick, and the Northwest Territories have included “social condition” in their human rights legislation.

In Kwan’s bill, the term “social condition” includes anyone in a socially identifiable group that suffers from social or economic disadvantage on the basis of income, occupation, poverty, lack of adequate housing, or any similar circumstance.

“Existing human rights protections are too often inadequate to deal with discriminatory treatment experienced by low-income individuals, individuals on income assistance, and homeless individuals.  This legislative response is an important part of better protecting the interests of the vulnerable and the less advantaged in our society,” said Young.

“The United Nations called on Canada to implement these provisions in a 2008 report by UN Special Rapporteur to ensure marginalized groups are protected,” said Kwan. “We are calling on the B.C. Liberal government to support this legislation.”

Carole James and the New Democrats are committed to combating homelessness and protecting the vulnerable as part of a comprehensive and targeted poverty reduction strategy.