Human Rights Office holds legislation forum
Yesterday afternoon in Dunning Hall, the Human Rights Office, the Equity Office and Queen’s administration organized a forum to discuss Ontario’s human rights legislation. This was the first meeting of its kind at Queen’s.
Irene Bujara, executive director of the Human Rights Office, said the representatives included both academic and non-academic groups.
“About 30 people came. There were representatives from across campus. We missed a few groups this time around because it was the first meeting.” Bujara said the purpose of the meeting was to ensure the University was disseminating information regarding changes in human rights legislation.
“The University has responsibilities under several pieces of [human rights] legislation,” she said. “These pieces of legislation have been undergoing changes over the past year.”
Included in the forum’s discussion were recent changes to the Ontario Human Rights Code.
“Under the Ontario Human Rights Code the system for making human rights complaints had changed,” she said. “People who have human rights complaints can go directly through a tribunal.”
Previously, human rights complaints had to go through the Ontario Human Rights Commission which would mediate complaints before trying to reach a settlement.
“The function [of the Ontario Human Rights Commission] has changed to be more promotional and looking at systemic issues. They no longer play a gate-keeping role. People also have a longer period of time to file applications.”
The deadline for filing complaints has changed from six months to one year, she said. Other changes include the ability of third parties to file applications with the tribunal.
Bujara said she is planning follow-up meetings.
“We’re planning on having a meeting about four times a year to give updates.”
—Clare Clancy
David Dodge installed as 13th chancellor
Queen’s alumnus and former governor of the Bank of Canada David Dodge was installed as Queen’s 13th chancellor at fall convocation ceremonies on Oct. 30.
Honourary LLD degrees will be awarded to economist Kevin Lynch, the Honourable Edgar benson, Aid Afghanistan for Education and Boumi Co-president Hassina Sherjan and TD Bank Financial Group president and chief executive officer William Edmund Clark.
—Jane Switzer
Queen’s improves national research ranking
In an annual ranking of Canada’s top 50 research universities, Queen’s has moved from seventh to fourth place in the category of research intensity. Additionally, Queen’s recorded the largest overall increase in funding of the top 16 Canadian institutions measured in the annual ranking.
Queen’s standing in research intensity is measured through sponsored research per full-time faculty and stands at $262,100 for 2007. Queen’s came in 11th place in the category of total research income.
The University of Toronto was ranked first in the medical/doctoral category for both research intensity and total funding.
—Jane Switzer
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