The Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion has received queries from students and employees pertaining to human rights and COVID-19.

Humber’s Human Rights Policy states:

The Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning and the University of Guelph-Humber (hereafter referred to as “Humber” or “the College”) is committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive culture in which all members of the College community study, work and live free from discrimination and harassment. The College has the right, as well as the legal and moral responsibility, to ensure that all its members are treated fairly, equitably, and respectfully, in order to provide a learning, working and living environment free from discrimination and harassment.

The Policy applies to all members of the Humber and University of Guelph-Humber community, including, all students, employees, governors, contractors, suppliers of services, individuals who are connected to any College initiative, volunteers and visitors.

According to the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s (OHRC) Policy statement on the COVID-19 pandemic:

Discrimination including harassment against any persons or communities related to COVID-19 is prohibited when it involves a ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code (Code), in the areas of services, housing, employment, vocational associations and contracts.

The Code protects against discrimination based on 17 grounds, whether perceived or otherwise, including disability, ethnic origin, place of origin and race. The OHRC’s policy position is that the Code ground of disability is engaged in relation to COVID-19 as it covers medical conditions or perceived medical conditions that carry significant social stigma.

Students and employees may request an exemption to the COVID-19 vaccination requirement based on the Code grounds of creed and/or disability which is interpreted to include medical conditions (Ontario Human Rights Commission, COVID-19 and Ontario’s Human Rights Code – Questions and Answers).

As an individual’s vaccination status is confidential information, it is important that members of the Humber community do not ask others about their vaccination status.

Members of the College community have the responsibility to foster a climate of understanding and mutual respect for the dignity and rights of each individual as well as to discourage, prevent, and report discrimination and harassment by others. If you observe a Humber community member being harassed or if you are directly impacted, please follow the steps outlined in Humber’s Human Rights Complaint Resolution Procedures:

• you can address the issue with the individual who is engaging in the harassing behaviour, if possible (informal process)
• you can report the issue to the Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion (humanrights@humber.ca)

Thank you for your commitment to ensuring an inclusive environment free from discrimination and harassment.