Organization Profile - Canadian Human Rights Tribunal

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

National Capital Region

Canadian Human Rights Act
http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/H-6/index.html

The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal consists of a maximum of 18 members, including a Chairperson and a Vice-chairperson, as may be appointed by the Governor in Council.

Persons appointed as members of the Tribunal must have experience, expertise and interest in, and sensitivity to, human rights.

The Chairperson and Vice-chairperson must be members in good standing of the bar of a province or the Chambre des notaires du Québec for at least ten years and at least two of the other members of the Tribunal must be members in good standing of the bar of a province or the Chambre des notaires du Québec.

Appointments are to be made having regard to the need for regional representation in the membership of the Tribunal.

If a member is absent or incapacitated, the Governor in Council may, appoint a temporary substitute member to act during the absence or incapacity.

The Governor in Council may appoint temporary members to the Tribunal for a term of not more than three years whenever, in the opinion of the Governor in Council, the workload of the Tribunal so requires.

The Chairperson and Vice-chairperson are to be appointed to hold office during good behaviour for terms of not more than seven years, and the other members are to be appointed to hold office during good behaviour for terms of not more than five years, but the Chairperson may be removed from office by the Governor in Council for cause and the Vice-chairperson and the other members may be subject to remedial or disciplinary measures.

A member whose appointment expires may, with the approval of the Chairperson, conclude any inquiry that the member has begun, and a person performing duties under this subsection is deemed to be a part-time member.

The Chairperson, Vice-chairperson or any other member whose term has expired is eligible for reappointment in the same or any other capacity.

The Chairperson and Vice-chairperson are to be appointed as full-time members of the Tribunal, and the other members are to be appointed as either full-time or part-time members.

The Chairperson has supervision over and direction of the work of the Tribunal, including the allocation of work among the members and the management of the Tribunal’s internal affairs.

The Vice-chairperson shall assist the Chairperson and shall perform the functions of the Chairperson if the Chairperson is absent or unable to act or the office of Chairperson is vacant.

The Governor in Council may authorize a member of the Tribunal to perform the functions of the Chairperson on a temporary basis if the Chairperson and Vice-chairperson are absent or unable to act or if both of those offices are vacant.

The full-time members of the Tribunal shall reside in the National Capital Region, as described in the schedule to the National Capital Act, or within forty kilometres of that Region.