Interim Agreement Reached on Systemic Human Rights Remedy

Interim agreement reached on a systemic human rights remedy for persons with disabilities.
Nova Scotia Disability Rights are Human Rights
Human Rights Case Posts

Interim agreement reached on a systemic human rights remedy for persons with disabilities.

The DRC is today releasing the Expert Report that formed the foundation of its Interim Settlement Agreement with the Province and the NS Human Rights Commission. In the wake of the landmark October 2021 NS Court of Appeal ruling finding systemic discrimination by the Province against persons with disabilities, the DRC and the Province agreed to obtain independent expert advice as to how the systemic discrimination identified by the Court of Appeal in its provision of supports and services could be resolved in a human rights compliant way. Here’s their Expert Report along with a five-page plain language Summary.

On Wednesday April 26, 2023 the Disability Rights Coalition will release an important update concerning its human rights complaint and the finding of systemic discrimination against persons with disabilities in their access to social assistance by the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal as well as the independent expert report that was prepared as a result of a collaborative process with the Province towards a systemic human rights remedy.

January 2023: Eddie Bartnik and Tim Stainton, independent reviewers, release an update on their work towards a systemic human rights remedy to end the discrimination against persons with disabilities as found by the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal.

Vicky Levack among the first four young people with disabilities to move into apartments. (photo: Brian MacKay/CBC)

“When we see an excessive amount of prescribing for antipsychotics, where there’s no clinical reason or disease state to be prescribing it, that would be a flag,” (photo: Shane Hennessey)

Nova Scotia does not have a precise timeline for phasing out large institutional housing for people with disabilities, the deputy minister of the Department of Community Services told a legislature hearing Tuesday. (Jean Laroche/CBC)

On the eve of the anniversary of the all-party endorsement of the “Roadmap” on equality for persons with disabilities in Nova Scotia, the Disability Rights Coalition (DRC) applauds the Premier for his government’s decision to abandon any attempt to justify the systemic discrimination found by this Province’s highest Court in October of 2021 against persons with disabilities.
Nine months later, now that the Province has abandoned its bid to justify the discrimination, the next step is a collaborative process to craft an effective and meaningful remedy that fixes the discriminatory government system.

A lawyer representing a disability rights group in Nova Scotia says he’s relieved the province won’t try to exempt itself from a court ruling that concluded the province discriminated against people with disabilities who were seeking housing.

An independent human rights board of inquiry in the matter of Disability Rights Coalition of Nova Scotia, Beth MacLean, Sheila Livingstone and Joseph Delaney vs. the Province of Nova Scotia will continue Tuesday, July 12.
The board chair in this hearing is Donald Murray, who is independent of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.
The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Express, 980 Parkland Dr., Halifax. The proceedings will be livestreamed on this webapge.