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2010 Legislative Session: 2nd Session, 39th Parliament

FIRST READING

The following electronic version is for informational purposes only.

The printed version remains the official version.

MS. JENNY WAI CHING KWAN

BILL M 201 – 2010

PROTECTION OF THE HOMELESS ACT, 2010

This Bill will protect some of the most vulnerable members of our society by amending the British Columbia Human Rights Code to include the term "social condition" as a prohibited ground of discrimination. Marginalized groups such as those who are homeless or low income will be covered under the proposed Human Rights Code amendments. This is consistent with the LaForest Report on the Federal Human Rights Act and its recommendation that this kind of extension to human rights legislation be done. This Bill will bring British Columbia into line with other jurisdictions in Canada which have already recognized and protected such vulnerable groups under provincial and territorial legislation.

HER MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:

1. The Human Rights Code S.B.C., c. 210 is amended by adding the following

definitions:

"Adequate housing" means housing that is habitable and structurally sound, and that provides sufficient space and protection against cold, damp, heat, rain, wind, noise, pollution and other threats to health and physical safety, and to which the individual possess legal protection against forced evictions.

"Social condition" means the condition of inclusion of the individual, other than on a temporary basis, in a socially identifiable group, that suffers from social or economic disadvantage on the basis of his or her source of income, occupation, level of education, poverty, lack of adequate housing, or any other similar circumstance.

Section 7 (1) of The Human Rights Code S.B.C., c. 210 is amended by adding " social condition, " after " race, ".

Section 8 (1) of The Human Rights Code S.B.C., c. 210 is amended by adding " social condition, " after " race, ".

Section 9 of The Human Rights Code S.B.C., c. 210 is amended by adding " social condition, " after " race, ".

Section 10 (1) of The Human Rights Code S.B.C., c. 210 is amended by adding " social condition, " after " race, ".

Section 11 of The Human Rights Code S.B.C., c. 210 is amended by adding " social condition, " after " race, ".

Section 13(1) of The Human Rights Code S.B.C., c. 210 is amended by adding " social condition, " after " race, ".

Section 14 of The Human Rights Code S.B.C., c. 210 is amended by adding " social condition, " after " race, ".

Section 41 (1) of The Human Rights Code S.B.C., c. 210 is amended by adding " social condition, " after " race, ".

Section 42 (1) of The Human Rights Code S.B.C., c. 210 is amended by adding " social condition, " after " race, ".

Explanatory Note

This Bill will protect some of the most vulnerable members of our society by amending the British Columbia Human Rights Code to include the term "social condition" as a prohibited ground of discrimination. Marginalized groups such as those who are homeless or low income will be covered under the proposed Human Rights Code amendments. This is consistent with the LaForest Report on the Federal Human Rights Act and its recommendation that this kind of extension to human rights legislation be done. This Bill will bring British Columbia into line with other jurisdictions in Canada which have already recognized and protected such vulnerable groups under provincial and territorial legislation.

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c) Queen’s Printer, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada