|
LAW AND POLICY
Canada has taken a very strong positive stance against hate activity: The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees equality under the law for all people, regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, etc. Federal and Provincial Human Rights Codes prohibit various forms of discrimination; the Canadian Human Rights Act also makes it illegal to repeatedly communicate hate messages by phone. The Criminal Code, in Sections 318 and 319, explicitly prohibits acts inciting hatred or violence toward any group on the basis of race, colour, ethnic origin and religion.
The Queen's University Senate has adopted the Queen's Harassment and Discrimination Policy and Procedure which clearly states that every individual is entitled to work and study in an environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. In order to advance the goals of this policy, the Human Rights Office provides education to members of the community with regard to their rights and responsibilities in the area of human rights. Queen's Harassment and Discrimination Policy and Procedure gives the Human Rights Office a mandate to promote human rights and to take action where acts of discrimination or harassment occur. The following grounds are specifically named in this document: gender identification, race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age marital status, family status and disability (handicap).
Drafted in 1994, AMS Assembly (the highest student legislative body at Queen's) unanimously passed the following motion: Whereas the Heritage Front has recently begun to propagate its philosophy and doctrine on this campus through the distribution of literature and; Whereas that philosophy and doctrine are diametrically opposed to the Alma Mater Society's mission statement, and the intellectual and democratic ideas of the university community; BE IT RESOLVED THAT: The AMS reaffirms its commitment to the fight against racism, sexism, homophobia and any other discriminatory philosophy and activity, as part of the larger struggle for social justice in our society. It specifically resolves to confront and expose the racist and homophobic views espoused by the Heritage Front or any other hate groups.
|