SCC Releases Decision on Human Rights Code Today

TORONTO, Feb. 27, 2013 /CNW/ - The Supreme Court of Canada will be releasing its decision this morning on whether, and to what extent, Human Rights Codes can protect members of groups being targeted for hatred and contempt based on categories such as race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. In this case, the issue is the content of certain flyers that denounced gays and lesbians.

Mark Freiman, a partner at Lerners LLP in Toronto, represented the Canadian Jewish Congress as an intervener in Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission v Whatcott. Mark and Lucas Lung, also a partner at Lerners, are available as a source to comment on the implications of the decision.

The SCC will be ruling whether the content of the flyers constitutes hate speech as defined by the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code and if it does, whether it is protected under the Charter guarantees of expressive freedom and freedom of conscience or, whether the Human Rights Code prohibition against hate speech is a reasonable limit on those rights necessary to protect the equality rights of the targeted group.

SOURCE: Lerners LLP

For more information, or to arrange an interview, please contact:

Mary Ann Freedman
Freedman & Associates Inc. for Lerners LLP
Tel: [phone]