Collaboration with Law Commission of Ontario aims to assist in evaluating AI’s effects on rights
A 2024–25 annual report recently released by the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) stresses the necessity for cultural transformation to ensure everyone in the province feels included and can live, work, and play within a democracy free from discrimination.
“Global crises and this season of uncertainty should reinforce our commitment to democracy,” said Patricia DeGuire, OHRC chief commissioner, in the news release announcing the report.
The report titled “Cultivating a Culture of Dignity and Respect: A Shared Responsibility” summarizes the OHRC’s work to abide by its mandate over the past year.
In its news release, the OHRC shared that it collaborated with the Law Commission of Ontario (LCO) in delivering the “Human Rights AI Impact Assessment” tool, which seeks to help organizations evaluate and mitigate the effects of artificial intelligence (AI) systems on human rights.
Released in November 2024, the tool included contributions from the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
“AI offers many benefits, but also has well-documented risks,” said Raj Anand, chair of the LCO board of governors, as quoted in the report.
Anand added that the resource aims to be “a practical, step-by-step tool that will help organizations identify and manage AI risks to human rights. The LCO and OHRC have worked together to develop the first human rights impact assessment based on Canadian human rights law.”
“Times like these, should remind us that the Ontario Human Rights Code assists in addressing discrimination in education, health, housing, and employment—key socio-economic determinants, which reinforce democracy and help impact the lives of all of us, especially the most marginalized,” DeGuire said in the OHRC’s news release.
According to the OHRC, in the 2024–25 period, it made efforts to:
“The Commission remains dedicated to working tirelessly with rights-holders and duty-holders to promote adherence to the Code and foster a culture of dignity and respect in all communities,” DeGuire said in the news release. “To these ends, the Commission invites all Ontarians to join in sharing this responsibility.”
The OHRC’s news release noted that the province has more than 16.1 million Ontarians with diverse identities, abilities, and backgrounds.
According to its news release, this past year, the OHRC has specifically:
The OHRC also shared that in 2024–25: