Prince Edward Island Human Rights Commission
Prince Edward Island Human Rights Act

Protected Grounds
1. Definitions
(d) “discrimination” means discrimination in relation to age, colour, creed, disability, ethnic or national origin, family status, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, political belief, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or source of income of any individual or class of individuals

Suggested Changes of the Act with Respect to Volunteers
From
1. Definitions
(f) “employer” includes a person who contracts with a person for services to be performed by that person or wholly or partly by another person;

To
1. Definitions
(f) “employer” includes a person who contracts with a person for services, paid or unpaid (volunteer), to be performed by that person or wholly or partly by another person;

Suggested Changes of the Act with Respect to Visible Identity
From
6. Discrimination in employment prohibited
(1) No person shall refuse to employ or to continue to employ any individual

(a) on a discriminatory basis, including discrimination in any term or condition of employment; or

(b) because the individual has been convicted of a criminal or summary conviction offence that is unrelated to the employment or intended employment of the individual.

To
6. Discrimination in employment prohibited
(1) No person shall refuse to employ or to continue to employ any individual

(a) on a discriminatory basis, including discrimination in any term or condition of employment; or

(b) because the individual has been convicted of a criminal or summary conviction offence that is unrelated to the employment or intended employment of the individual.

(c) on a discriminatory basis, including reassignment, because the individual is wearing symbolic items reflecting their individual identities, based on age, colour, creed, disability, ethnic or national origin, family status, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, political belief, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or source of income of any individual or class of individuals.

Suggested Petition
Information about Petitions
Whereas.
The Human Rights of volunteers have been protected by legal practice it is essential that this protection be codified in the Prince Edward Island Human Rights Act (PEIHRA).

And Whereas.
Diversity is not always visible, and it should be celebrated, not a target of hate, so protection is needed in the PEIHRA for persons who’ choose to display their individual identities with respect to the protected grounds of the PEIHRA, while employed or volunteering.

And Whereas.
This is a complex issue and the Prince Edward Island Human Rights Commission is best suited to develop a working policy on implementation.

And Whereas.
One should not be judged by their identities displayed rather by their actions as a volunteer or employee.

We the Undersigned Citizens of Prince Edward Island request the Legislative Assembly to:

Amend the PEIHRA to protect persons who volunteer.

AND

Amend the PEIHRA to protect individuals who’s individual identities are based on the protected grounds of the PEIHRA from removal, refusal, reassignment or retaliation, while choosing to wear a symbolic item, that reflects their individual identities, while volunteering or employed..

Suggested Letter to Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA)
Members of the Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly
Notes: Copy, paste and edit to your liking. MLA’s will prioritize responding from persons in their riding.

Dear Member of the Legislative Assembly Full Name.

The Human Rights of volunteers have been protected by legal practice. It is essential that this protection be codified in the Prince Edward Island Human Rights Code (PEIHRC).

Diversity is not always visible, and it should be celebrated, not a target of hate, so protection is needed in the PEIHRC for persons who’ choose to display their individual identities with respect to the protected grounds of the PEIHRC, while employed or volunteering.

This is a complex issue and the Prince Edward Island Human Rights Commission is best suited to develop a working policy on implementation.

One should not be judged by their identities displayed rather by their actions as a volunteer or employee

Please consider the following amendments to the PEIHRC as listed below.

In Solidarity.
Your Full Name
Your Address
Your Telephone Number

Amendment 1 Insert the text “, paid or unpaid (volunteer),” between the word “services” and “to” in Section 1 Definitions, (f) “employer”.

Resulting In
1. Definitions
(f) “employer” includes a person who contracts with a person for services, paid or unpaid (volunteer), to be performed by that person or wholly or partly by another person;

Amendment 2 Insert the text “, or (c) on a discriminatory basis, including reassignment, because the individual is wearing an item reflecting their identity based on age, colour, creed, disability, ethnic or national origin, family status, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, political belief, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or source of income of any individual or class of individuals” between the last text “individual” and the ending period.

Resulting In
6. Discrimination in employment prohibited
(1) No person shall refuse to employ or to continue to employ any individual

(a) on a discriminatory basis, including discrimination in any term or condition of employment; or

(b) because the individual has been convicted of a criminal or summary conviction offence that is unrelated to the employment or intended employment of the individual, or

(c) on a discriminatory basis, including reassignment, because the individual is wearing symbolic items reflecting their individual identities based on age, colour, creed, disability, ethnic or national origin, family status, gender expression, gender identity, marital status, political belief, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or source of income of any individual or class of individuals.