Human Rights Milestones

Year

Human Rights Achievement

1804-18734 January

Joseph Howe – (December 1804 – June 1873) Born in Halifax NS.  Howe gained early prominence as a defender of freedom of the press. Howe later became instrumental in helping Nova Scotia become the first British colony to win Responsible Government in 1848. Today, Howe is considered one of Nova Scotia's greatest and most-loved politicians.

191808 January

The Nova Scotia Franchise Act  gives women the right to vote in Nova Scotia's provincial elections. The effects of Manitoba's decision to grant women the vote have rippled all the way to the East.  This right to vote was later accorded to Visible Minorities (1950’s) and Aboriginal peoples (1960’s)

1948

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is signed by the United Nations members. Canadian John Humphrey plays a large role in drafting the declaration, and Canada is among the signing nations.

The 50’s Era

In this era some changes begin to be made in gender rights and racial segregation. The work in this era lays the foundation for the civil rights era (the 60’s)

1953

Nova Scotia adopts fair employment legislation.

1954

Legal segregation of Nova Scotia schools ends

1955

The Fair Employment Practices Act which prohibits discrimination in regard to employment and membership in trade unions because of race, religion, creed, color, national or ethnic origin

1956

The Equal Pay Act was a law declaring that women should not be paid less than men because of their gender. This was legislated to ensure that female employees received equal pay for equal work in the workplace.

1959

In Nova Scotia, the Fair Accommodations Act makes discrimination because of race, creed, colour, or nationality illegal. Restaurants, hotels, and other facilities open to the public can no longer refuse to serve someone on the basis if any of these grounds

1960

Aboriginal people have the vote

The 60’s Era

• The 1960’s was a period of social unrest and significant social, economic and political developments, characterized as the climax of a period of social movement activism in Canada
• Prime Minister John Diefenbaker brings in the Canadian Bill of Rights
• Increased women’s activism led to the establishment of The Royal Commission on the Status of Women (1967).  The Commission mandate included ensuring equal opportunities for women in all aspects of Canadian society
• In Nova Scotia a group mobilized to agitate for the rights of Blacks in Africville, eventually taking the name of the Halifax Advisory Committee on Human Relations.

1962

The Halifax Advisory Committee on Human Relations was created. This was in addition to a human rights committee with the Halifax District Labour Council and the Cape Breton Labour Council.
An Interdepartmental Committee on Human rights was also established within NS government

1963

Nova Scotia passes its first Human Rights Act. The Act consolidates the province's Human Rights legislation into one Act. This Act would be enforced by a Human Rights Commission as of 1967

1967

The government of Nova Scotia established the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission (NSHRC) in 1967. Its explicit purpose was to challenge longstanding patterns of discrimination on racial, religious and ethnic grounds.
At this time provincial laws began to regard discrimination and the lack of Human Rights as more than a personal problem with individual solutions.

1977

Status of Women Act is passed and Canadian Human Rights Act is legislated.
This is a year after the adoption of the International Bill of Rights.

The 80’s Era

In this era, for the first time emphasis was placed on training for teachers.
A promise is made to increase emphasis on cross-cultural training for teachers, administers and school staff.

1981

Proclamation signing ceremony: Premier John Buchanan marked the 33rd anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights by declaring December 10th Human rights Day in NS.

1982

Source of Income - The Human Rights Act underwent revisions, adding to the characteristics protection against discrimination on the basis of source of income.
Charter of Rights and Freedoms was also added to the repatriated constitution.
The Charter has had an immense impact on the social and political life of Canada becoming useful in public-policy making through decisions on issues such as gay marriage, health care, pay equity and trade union rights.

1984

The Judge Abella report, in which the term Employment Equity was coined to describe the Canadian approach to dealing with employment disadvantage, confirmed that almost a quarter-century of human rights law had helped some people, but many systemic barriers had not changed.

1984-1985

Human Rights Commission conducts public awareness initiatives.
School age children are taught fundamental tenets of fairness, respect, and justice building firm foundations for adulthood

1986

Mental Disability Act and The Canadian Human Rights Act underwent revisions, adding to the characteristics protection against discrimination on the basis of mental disability

1989

Pay Equity Act legislated

The 90’s Era

• The 90’s placed greater emphasis on the importance of fairer and diverse education and workplaces. 
• The Government introduces Race Relations Training which is offered to all Government employees and is designed to increase awareness and sensitivity to employment equity and diversity in the workforce.
• Emphasis is placed on services to support social assistance recipient’s transition to employment. On a yearly basis 50% of Nova Scotian’s receiving social assistance transition to employment.

1991

The Human Rights Act underwent major revisions, adding to the characteristics protection against discrimination on the basis of the following grounds:
Aboriginal Origin, Age, Family Status (In NS refers to the status of being in a parent and child relationship), Irrational Fear of Contracting an Illness – to adequately protect people living with HIV/AIDS, Marital Status, Political Affiliation, Sex pregnancy, Sexual Harassment, Sex (Sexual Orientation)

1992

In a speech to the Halifax Rotary Club, NSHRC Executive Director again emphasizes the role of public education in presenting strategies for attitudinal and behavioral change.

1993

The College de l’Acadie has offered certificate and diploma programs in a post-secondary setting in French to the Acadian and Francophone regions of the province.

1994

Simon Thwaites, a soldier, was honorably discharged from the Canadian Armed Forces in 1994 because he was a homosexual and HIV (Human Immuno-deficiency Virus) carrier.  Simon Thwaites was compensated for his wrongful dismissal from the Canadian Armed Forces.

1996

Sexual orientation is added as a grounds for discrimination in the Canadian Human Rights Act

1997

The Tripartite Agreement (1997) affirms the right of Mi’kmaq jurisdiction over on-reserve education in Nova Scotia resulting in, schools on reserves operating under the control of local bands. The Council on Mi’kmaq Education is created and a Mi’kmaq representative is appointed to each regional school board.
Education jurisdiction transferred to the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia. It was the first agreement in Canada to transfer jurisdiction for education from the federal government of Canada to First Nation communities. Only one year later the Eskasoni High Tech High School opens

1998

The Human Rights Commission obtained a regulation enhancing its enforcement powers, by allowing the Human Rights Commission to register board of inquiry monetary orders with the Supreme Court.

1999

The Marshall decision of the Supreme Court of Canada affirms treaty rights of Mi’kmaq to fish commercially

Current Decade

• A shift from an industrial / manufacturing age into a technology/ information age is reflected in Nova Scotia education and industry statistics; in 2006, 67% of Halifax residents held trade, college of university qualifications.
• This high percentage of educated people places Halifax among the top five cities in Canada (re: education). The shift to a technological age and the associated shift in skill set required as well as the rise in immigration to Nova Scotia emphasizes the need for employers to embrace diverse workplaces in an ever evolving society.  

2000

Employment Equity Act legislated in NS
Special measures of protection and assistance in Section 6(a) of the Act provide for exceptions that allow for special programs for youth and seniors that might otherwise have been deemed discriminatory

2001

June 8th, Eskasoni’s Tuma young, became the first Mi’k maq speaking lawyer to be called to the Nova Scotia Bar.

2005

Canada is the fourth country to give same-sex couples access to marriage

2007

NSHRC hosted an Aboriginal Forum to learn about the progress and concerns of First Nations people in the province. This led to the development of an Aboriginal Strategy for handling Human Rights issues.

2008

A number of amendments are made to the Human rights Act.
Harassment is included as a prohibited form of discrimination, a definition of harassment is also included. (2) The Race Relations and Affirmative Action Division created in 1991 as a merger of 3 divisions of the NSHRC: Race Relations, Affirmative Action Programs and Public Education. In 2008 a name change to the Race Relations Equity and Inclusion from Race Relations and Affirmative Action Division
The Race Relations equity and Inclusion division conducts training that emphasizes the fundamental tenets of mutual respect, fairness, dignity and justice. This is an important strategy for proactively addressing human rights issues in the province by encouraging attitudinal change before complaints are filed.

Present day

Commemorating special events such as international human Rights Day and International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination continue as important opportunities to promote human rights, build partnerships and educate members of society on the importance of upholding fairness, equality and dignity for all.