IN May this year, the B.C. Human Rights Advisory Council handed its interim report to members of the legislative assem- bly.

In the repert the council urged MLAs to expand the Hamar Rights Cade to include new grounds tor protection.

The advisory council is an arm of the tripartite human rights organization, which also consists of the Human Rights Commission and the Human Rights Tribunal.

A bureaucratic mouthful, I know, but bear with me.

Here is the broad and short of it: the Human Rights Conimission decides who is in need of protected- species designation.

The quasi-judicial cri- bunal then acts on these definitions in the substance of its decisions. And the advisory council? [| honestly can’s tell you.

Its work clearly entaiis more than a bit of duplica- tion and overlap.

Why, the council's May report is almost a carbon copy of the commission's 1998 report entitled Hasan Rights for the Next Millenninm,

That one arm of the structure serves as an idco- logical echo chamber to the other, is no surprise.

It docs become a little annoying considering the council is supposed to be more responsive to the com- munity and its needs, than

comment

to its apparatchicks, Bur never mind the burcaucratic machinery, more compelling is the recommendation to include in the code protec tion against discrimination on the basis of “social con- ditions.”

At present, the code pro- tects against discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital sta- tus, family status, physi mental disability, sex, sexual orientation and age. :

What does “social coridi- tions” mean? ft means that those who receive social assistance, as well as single women and single mothers, will enjoy protection under the code,

Ideally, the commission would prefer an even broad- er protection for the poor so as to prevent discrimination against a person based on his standing in soc:ety “as determined by his/her occu- pation, income or education level or family background.”

Does this mean that a complaint might be lodged against me if T refuse to lease an apartment to some- one with bad credit?

Am I not rejecting him on the basis of his “income,” or lack of it? You

vet the picture: we are look- ing to create a formidable expanse of potential griev- ance.

Should this impetus tall short of government approval then the comniis- sian will settle for the nar- rower grounds of “hwtul source of income.”

This means that no dis- crimination in “accommoda- tion, service, facility, pur- chase of property, and employment,” can be levied at the recipient of welfare monies, or at the recipient of any “legal non-waye incomes.”

In the likelihood the leg: islature fails to approve this change, the commission will allow that protection against discrimination based on “lawtal source of income” be confined to tenancy alone.

Does this, by any chance, overlap with other fegisia- tion? You bet: By the com- mission’s own admission, Section ST of the Residential Tenaney Act already covers these prounds.

What's the point then? I honestly don’t know,

The new recommenda: tions undergitd the tenuous balance in the code berween the individual's treedam to contract at will, and sate- guard his or her property rights, and the rights of a group (the poor) to protec: tion.

But fee's look at the kind of transactions the changes to the cade could catch,

Could this laudable quest for social equality and eco- nomic security force retailers to lower prices because these

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discrimi nate against those who can’? afford the mer- chandise?

It might become an offence fora landlord te retuse to lease an abode to someone who can’t pay the rent.

Could banks be forced to foan money to the indigent with no expectation of a return?

After all, denying an indi- gent person a bank loan is discriminating against the person on the basis of income.

And where in all this is the right ofa property or franchise owner to make decisions that safeguard his or her acquisitions?

if you think these scenar- ios are absurd, think again: The Huisman Rights ‘Fribunal has hitherto heard some outtandish cases.

The real question is the continual expansion of the definition of human rights violations.

Increasingly social condi- tions like poverty and the shortage of affordable hous- ing are cast as human rights infractions.

“Native JEweLLery/ Web ING RINGS”

441 West 3rd Street, North Vancouver

388-9215

Friday, August 20, 1999 — North Shore News —

Human rights commission has new targets

The human rights foot soldiers invariably bolster this claim by invoking Canada’s obligations as a signatory to the various UN covenants.

A UN covenant like the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, maintains that “freely chosen” des able work is a humaa rig!

Adequate “rest and leisure” so tucked in somewhere in that covenant sa right.

Whuman rights legista- tion continues to hark to such covenants, there is no reason why someone who hasn’t had a vacation, or has not reached his carcer apogee could not launch 3 complaint,

Such an expansive view of

human rights not only belit- thes true depredation and sutfering, but promises to turn every human need inte

an inalienable right and any unfulfilled need into a viola- tion of human rights.

{n April, federal justice minister Anne McLellan Jaunched a review, headed by former Supreme Court Judge Gerard LaForest, thar will examine the inclusion in the federal Haman Rights Act of a person's “social conditions” as grounds for a human rights complaint.

If the federal act extends protection against discrimi- nation on the grounds of social conditions, B.C. is fikely co follow suit.

The result will lead both to the trammelling of prop- erty rights and the freedom to contract at will.

We would do well to remember thar, like equality before the law, so too do the institutions of private prop- erty and freedom of contract form the foundation of a free socicty.

There is a new pub at the corner of Queens and Lonsdale, at least that is the way it looks,

3 The Queen's Cross Pub was

Bestablished in 1979, and in honour of its 20th anniversary, it has been

@ remodeled. Thanks to a

Brenovation costing over half a million dollars, chis popular pub has been transformed into a bright and airy venue with a

B renewed focus on authenticity and quality.

Management had the

Bgood taste to ask the local clientele what they would

Blike to see changed. The

Boverwhelming majority wanted to maintain the English Pub theme.

2 Armed with their quest,

the owners traveled to

f England to study the land

Blof pubs first hand. When they returned, work began

fon a second floor seating area,

m building a new bar, designing an qcncry, and focusing on sourcing

Bout unique furniture and

Mfixtures to maintain the pub's

A beautiful front entrance has been created featuring tile and oak flooring, stained glass and antique light fixtures. Once you

make your way into the pub, the

Dave Crown, Ray ‘Shore & Teri Short

invite you to the Queen's Cross

first ching you will notice is a huge stone fireplace inset with tilework. Hanging in front of the fireplace is an antique chandelier that used to belong to a church in Manchester,

England.

To the right sits a new pool l table with lots of elbow room. § To the left is the new oak bar B accented with stained glass, §

which now scats 12 instead of only 4.

Huge windows bring inf lots of light and a wide stairway takes you tc a§ mezzanine featuring a view § of downtown, as well as af view overlooking che main floor. The upper floor ® offers a new dimension to the pub and allows for booking private parties.

Another dramaiic § change is something thar]: only a non-smoker would a notice. A double air-§ conditioning unit that is said to keep the air smoke : free.

This rejuvenated local # pub looks absolutely fantastic. [ts unique decor J

makes it wosth visiting and its} superior level of service andg - quality of food, make it worth staying. ‘

What was once old is new

again, and ic is fit for a Queen.

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Queen’s Cross Neighbourhood Pub and Cold Beer & Wine Emporium 2989 Lonsdale Ave., N.V. 980-7715