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HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION APPLAUDS GOVERNMENT’S AMENDMENTS TO END MANDATORY RETIREMENT

Released on May 18, 2007

The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission is pleased with the Government of Saskatchewan’s announcement of legislative amendments to The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code to end mandatory retirement.

The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission began recommending the elimination of the restrictive definition of age 10 years ago in its review of the Human Rights Code because it is inconsistent with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

“These amendments will be welcomed by those not wishing to retire at 65, and will have positive benefits for vulnerable groups who will no longer be forced to retire,” Human Rights Commission Acting Chief Commissioner John C. Hill said.  “These include those who have entered the workforce later than others, women who have taken time away from the workforce to raise children or have experienced wage inequity while they were employed, and those who simply cannot afford to retire at age 65.”

In 2006-2007, the Commission accepted 18 complaints of age discrimination based on mandatory retirement.  The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code currently defines “age” as “any age of 18 years or more but less than 65 years,” restricting protection from age discrimination to those persons between 18 and 64.  The bill strikes out the words, “but less than 65 years”.  The amendments do not preclude age limitations required by any other Act or regulation in force.

As the amendments will not come into force until six months after Royal Assent, the Commission will await the decision of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Tribunal in the Louise Carlson v. Saskatoon Public Library Board and the Canadian Union of Public Employees for guidance on protections against age discrimination in the intervening period.

With the legislative amendments, Saskatchewan will join the majority of Canadian provinces that no longer require mandatory retirement based solely on age.

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For more information, contact:

Fiji Robinson
Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-933-8280
Email: frobinson@shrc.gov.sk.ca

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