NDP Leader Howard Hampton says Dalton McGuinty’s scheme to ram through far-reaching changes to Ontario’s Human Rights Commission without proper debate will deny justice to the most marginalized people in Ontario. The forced vote takes place Tuesday.

“Dalton McGuinty’s Liberals are muzzling debate, ramming through bad legislation and denying human rights to the people who need them protected the most. These McGuinty Liberals tactics are manipulative and undemocratic,” said Hampton.

“Thousands of advocates didn’t support the McGuinty Liberals scheme to force them to pay out-of-pocket to defend their rights. The Afghan Association of Toronto, the African Canadian Legal Clinic, the Canadian Arab Federation, the Canadian Council on American-Islamic Relations, the Chinese Canadian National Council, B’Nai Brith all said the proposed legislation will take away the rights they now have entrenched in the Human Rights Code,” said Hampton.

McGuinty’s Bill 107 will effectively privatize the Ontario Human Rights Commission - forcing Ontarians to pay out-of-pocket for lawyers, investigators and even to cover the costs of a hearing.

“The McGuinty Liberals have turned their back on their responsibility to ensure human rights and justice for all Ontarians. Vulnerable Ontarians and minority groups will pay a tough price for the wrong-headed legislation. This is inexcusable and a travesty to people’s human rights,” said Hampton.