ADVISORY: Media are invited to join B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner for announcement of first public inquiry

Vancouver B.C. – B.C.’s Human Rights Commissioner, Kasari Govender, will announce the topic of the first public inquiry to be conducted by her Office on Aug. 18, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. Media are invited to register for a Zoom videoconference to learn more about the Commissioner’s first public inquiry: a year-long investigation into a major human rights issue of our time. The Commissioner will be available for questions.

WHO:	Kasari Govender, B.C.’s first independent Human Rights Commissioner
WHAT:	Announcing the topic of the first public inquiry to be conducted by BC’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner and taking questions from media
WHEN:	Wednesday, August 18, 2021, from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. (PDT)
WHERE:	via Zoom videoconference
REGISTER:	https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1-byl8cmQdKb3YUAfqwe1Q

Note: When registering, please advise us of any accessibility needs or translation requirements you may have. We will work to accommodate you.

Background

In November 2018, amendments to B.C.’s Human Rights Code came into force allowing for the creation of an independent human rights commissioner for British Columbia. Up until then, B.C. had been without a human rights commission since 2002—the only Canadian province without one. Commissioner Kasari Govender was appointed in September 2019. In September 2020, more legal changes came into force that gave the Commissioner broad powers to inquire into matters that would serve to promote or protect human rights in B.C., including through a public inquiry. A public inquiry is an opportunity to delve deeply into the human rights implications of a particular incident or issue, gather factual and expert evidence, hear directly from those impacted (for example, through witness statements, public hearings or surveys) and determine recommendations for how to address the human rights issues raised. The inquiry being announced on Aug. 18, 2021 will be the first conducted by an independent human rights commissioner in B.C.