We are living in an era where people in Canada are navigating a never-ending influx of information that is available at their fingertips. Some of it is good. Some of it is not. It has never been more important to ensure that quality data and quality human rights research are informing the national conversation, and driving important changes that will advance equality and better protect human rights.
Each year, the Commission conducts and supports a range of human rights research. In 2021, we focussed on several key areas:
Together with the Ontario Human Rights Commission and the Law Commission of Ontario, we launched a joint research initiative on the emerging issue of artificial intelligence and human rights. We also participated in a peer review of a report from the Global Privacy Assembly's working group on privacy, data protection and other rights and freedoms.
We sat on the Institutional Stakeholder Advisory Committee to lend our expertise to the ongoing research project, entitled “Communities United for Racial Equality,” that was launched by the Institute for Research and Education on Race Relations.
We worked with Indigenous Works in the launch of a joint project that aims to promote Indigenous recruitment and retention within the banking and financial sector.
We also continued to champion important research being done in the area of LGBTQ2SI+ rights. This included collaborating on the 2021 TransPULSE Canada report on trans and non-binary immigrants and newcomers; and supporting Pride at Work in the development and launch of their guide, entitled “Know Your Rights: A Guide for LGBTQ2+ Employees.”