Human Rights Code Amendment Act (Genetic Characteristics), 2015 Colle, Mike — Bill 129 (41st Parliament, 1st Session)

Bill 129, 41-1

Ontario — Bills

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Bill 129, Human Rights Code Amendment Act (Genetic Characteristics), 2015

Colle, Mike

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[41] Bill 129 Original (PDF)

Bill 129 2015

An Act to amend the

Human Rights Code with respect to genetic characteristics

Her Majesty, by and

with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of

Ontario, enacts as follows:

Section

1 of the Human Rights Code is amended by adding

"genetic characteristics" after "age".

2. (1) Subsection

2 (1) of the Act is amended by adding "genetic

characteristics" after "age".

(2) Subsection

2 (2) of the Act is amended by adding "genetic characteristics" after "age".

Section

3 of the Act is amended by adding "genetic characteristics" after "age".

4. (1) Subsection

5 (1) of the Act is amended by adding "genetic characteristics" after "age".

(2) Subsection

5 (2) of the Act is amended by adding "genetic characteristics" after "age".

Section

6 of the Act is amended by adding "genetic characteristics" after "age".

6. (1) Subsection

10 (1) of the Act is amended by adding the following definition:

"genetic

characteristics" means genetic traits of an individual, including traits that

may cause or increase the risk to develop a disorder or disease;

("caractéristiques génétiques")

(2) Section

10 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Refusal to undergo or

disclose results of genetic test

(4) The

right to equal treatment without discrimination because of genetic

characteristics includes the right to equal treatment without discrimination

because a person refuses to undergo a genetic test or refuses to disclose, or

authorize the disclosure of, the results of a genetic test.

7. The

Act is amended by adding the following section:

Restrictions

for insurance contracts, etc.

22.1 The

right under sections 1 and 3 to equal treatment with respect to services and to

contract on equal terms without discrimination because of genetic

characteristics is not infringed if a contract of automobile, life, accident or

sickness or disability insurance or a contract of group insurance between an

insurer and an association or person other than an employer, or a life annuity,

(

a) pays

a benefit of more than,

(i) $1,000,000

in total, or

(ii) $75,000

per annum; and

(

b) differentiates

or makes a distinction, exclusion or preference on reasonable and bona fide grounds because of genetic characteristics.

8. Clause

24 (1) (

a) of the Act is amended by adding "genetic characteristics" after

"age".

Commencement

9. This

Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short

title

10. The

short title of this Act is the Human Rights Code Amendment

Act (Genetic Characteristics), 2015 .

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The

Bill amends the Human Rights Code to include

genetic characteristics as a prohibited ground of discrimination. The Act

currently includes race, marital status and disability, among other things, as

prohibited grounds of discrimination.

addition to other amendments, various sections are amended to provide that

every person has a right to equal treatment, without discrimination because of

genetic characteristics, with respect to services, goods and facilities, the

occupancy of accommodation, the right to contract, and employment and membership

in various types of organizations. This includes the right to equal treatment

if a person refuses to undergo or disclose the results of a genetic test. High

value insurance contracts are permitted to differentiate or make a distinction,

exclusion or preference on reasonable and bona fide

grounds because of genetic characteristics.

Date Bill stage Activity Committee

October 8, 2015

First Reading

Carried

Debates and Progress

First Reading

October 8, 2015

Committee

Second Reading

Committee

Third Reading

Royal Assent

Acts affected - Bill 129

Most Ontario public acts are available electronically; to view copies of the Acts to be amended by this bill visit e-laws

Human Rights Code

Legislative Assembly of Ontario

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Document details

Collection	Ontario — Bills
Citation	Bill 129, 41-1
Type	bill
Volume / chapter	p41 s1 bill 129 html
Language	en
Format	html
Source	PROVINCIAL
Identifier	f8ffbdbc7e4bccddb8d4f8ddef45bcf69bf074aa

Source file is stored in the law ingest library (html).