On National Housing Day, Marie-Josée Houle, Federal Housing Advocate, issues the following statement. A version of this story was published in Le Devoir (French only) on November 22, 2024.
Today, on International Equal Pay Day, we are calling on all business leaders in Canada to be pay equity champions and to continue to take the necessary action towards closing the gender pay gap. Federally regulated employers were required to post their first pay equity plan on September 3, 2024, and we are encouraged to see organizations demonstrating their commitment to pay equity.
This National AccessAbility Week is an opportunity to recommit to the removal of barriers and making Canada more accessible for everyone.
Today on Earth Day, the Canadian Human Rights Commission is calling for the swift passage of the National Strategy Respecting Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice Act (Bill C-226).
The Canadian Human Rights Commission is deeply concerned by the data released earlier this week by Statistics Canada from the Survey on Sexual Misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). The results confirm that the proportion of military members who reported being sexually assaulted by another member of the military more than doubled between 2018 and 2022. Equally disheartening is that most of this is going unreported.
The Commission is pleased that the Canada Disability Benefit Act (Bill C-22), is now law. The Commission recognizes and celebrates the efforts of people with disabilities, their advocates, and Parliamentarians for championing this historic law that will help realize the rights of people with disabilities.
I applaud Justice Canada’s release of the United Nations Declaration Act Action Plan. I see this as a hopeful step on the path to reconciliation and improving the human right to adequate housing for Indigenous peoples.
The newly unveiled Federal Budget is a sorry disappointment. It completely misses the mark on addressing the most pressing housing crisis this country has ever seen. There are no new ideas, and not nearly enough new money announced for housing. The homelessness crisis was not even mentioned. This is simply unacceptable.
Today, on International Women’s Day, we celebrate all women and their invaluable contributions to social, economic, cultural, and political advancements toward gender equity. The theme for International Women’s Day in 2023 is “Every Woman Counts,” underlining that every woman, everywhere, has intrinsic and undeniable value.
Today marks the beginning of Black History Month. This is an opportunity to honour and celebrate the diverse legacies of Black people in Canada, past and present. This month also allows us to learn more about the important roles and achievements of Black people in Canada that have shaped our country.