Prince Edward Island recently became the third Atlantic Canadian province to expressly include “gender expression” and “gender identity” as protected grounds under the Human Rights Act, RSPEI 1988, c H-12 (the “Act”). The Act was amended by Bill 11, An Act to Amend the Human Rights Act, to include the new protected grounds. Royal assent was granted on December 6, 2013.
Although past claims dealing with discrimination or harassment on these grounds have been accepted under the enumerated ground of “sex,” this legislative amendment reiterates the message that transgender, transsexual, intersex, crossdresser, trans, and other persons who express gender differently than their birth-assigned sex are afforded protection under the Act.
The new grounds are not defined in the Act; however, the Ontario Human Rights Commission defines “gender identity” as being “linked to a person’s sense of self, and the sense of being male or female.” Whereas “gender expression” refers to external attributes, behavior, appearance, dress, etc.
On December 13, 2018, the federal government gave royal assent to a bill that promised substantial changes to the employment standards for federal employers. The changes themselves have not yet been implemented, however, this is expected in 2019 and will be subject to staggered implementation dates. Overview of Key Changes There are a number of […]
read moreHave you received advice from an accountant or a lawyer on the best way to structure your fishing business? If so, did that advice take the most recent Income Tax Act amendments into consideration? Finding the structure that is optimal for your circumstances can make a world of difference to you and your family.
read moreNewfoundland and Labrador has recently announced upcoming revisions to the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2012 (the “New Regulations”). The New Regulations follow similar changes made last year in New Brunswick and attempt to tackle the issues of workplace harassment and violence. New Brunswick’s regulations, initially scheduled to come into force last September, are now […]
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