B.C. moves to bring back human rights commission 16 years after it was tossed

VICTORIA – The B.C. government has introduced legislation that would bring back a human rights commission to the province.

The former commission was dismantled in 2002, but Attorney General David Eby says given what’s happening around the globe, it’s never been more important for governments to do all they can to stand up for human rights.

Eby says every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and by re-establishing the commission, the government is creating a more inclusive, just society.

The proposed Human Rights Code Amendment Act will create an independent human rights commissioner who would report to the legislative assembly.

The commissioner will have a mandate to address issues of discrimination, develop education tools, policies and guidelines to promote human rights and combat patterns of inequality and discrimination in society.

B.C. is currently the only province that doesn’t have such a body.