Ontario Human Rights Code
Under the Human Rights Code, postsecondary institutions must proactively assess and address signs of systemic discrimination and respond to, investigate and remedy claims of discrimination or harassment that are raised. Our response to acts of harassment or discrimination (including a poisoned environment) must be timely, effective and proportionate.
The has primacy over a minister鈥檚 directive. It also helps guide the development and review of anti-racism and anti-hate policies.
Occupational Health and Safety Act
The University follows legislative requirements as, Part III.0.1, on violence and harassment under the . The OHSA includes provisions requiring employers, including universities, to have policies and programs relating to workplace harassment, whether or not it鈥檚 related to the Code grounds, and workplace violence.
Directives
- The received royal assent on May 16, 2024. This legislation added new requirements under the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act for Ontario鈥檚 publicly-assisted colleges and universities to have policies and rules that describe how each institution will address and combat racism and hate, including but not limited to anti-Indigenous racism, anti-Black racism, antisemitism and Islamophobia.
The under the Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario Act:
The Minister of Colleges and Universities announced that publicly funded colleges and universities must develop, implement and comply with a free speech policy that meets the minimum standard set by the minister. The objective of the Ontario Campus Free Speech Policy is to ensure that all colleges and universities have a strong and clear policy that is consistent across institutions.
Contractual agreements
The University of Ottawa has contractual obligations regarding academic freedom under (VirtuO login required) with professors and employees.