Discrimination may return under minister's plans

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Pikiskwe

Picture this: You arrive at the only house within your price range that could adequately house five kids. Moments before, on the telephone, the landlord said the house was still available. The landlord takes one look at you and says the place has been taken.

If Community Development Minister Dianne Mirosh successfully implements her plans, the scenario just mentioned will return. As one of those five kids that was turned away, I do not want to return to those dark days.

Mirosh, one of the new rookie ministers appointed to Alberta Premier Ralph Klein's cabinet, has suggested the Alberta Human Rights Commission be abolished and the Individual Rights Protection Act be repealed. She is the minister responsible for both the commission and the act.

It is apparent that Mirosh has little understanding of human rights legislation, which was established to protect individuals against discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex, etc. It was established to ensure everyone's individual rights.

Prior to this legislation, people could be subjected to discrimination for a variety

of reasons. It was, basically, acceptable bigotry.

Mirosh contends the Charter of Rights and Freedoms will provide enough protection for individuals, once again showing her ignorance of human rights legislation.

It takes an enormous amount of money for lawyers and court applications in order to bring an action based on the charter.

Secondly, the charter only applies to government and their legislative bodies. Private interests like landlords, private sector employers, restaurant owners, hotel proprietors, etc. would all be excluded.

Without the Human Rights Commission and the Individual Rights Protection Act, there can only be a return to the time when being a Native meant being a second-class citizen.

I was cautiously optimistic about Premier Klein's new government, but I found the recent ramblings by Mirosh very disturbing.

Mirosh later said she was sorry she revealed her ignorance of the province's human rights legislation and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. She also said she was sorry she spoke before consulting the premier and before Peter Elzinga completed his review of Alberta's 300 boards and commissions.

But does that mean she has changed her opinions? Not likely.

My suggestion to Premier Klein is to ask for her resignation and appoint someone with more appreciation of human rights.