A/HRC/13/23/Add.2 making use of language skills and cultural understandings.5 The federal Multiculturalism Program encourages federal institutions to meet their obligations under the Act and aims to remove barriers related to ethnicity, race, culture and religion. 17. Most provinces and territories have multiculturalism legislation or policies, including British Columbia which adopted its Multiculturalism Act in 1993, and Ontario which adopted a Ministry of Citizenship and Culture Act in 1982. Quebec designates its policy as “inter-culturalism” and has a Ministry of Immigration and Cultural Communities. 18. Specific legislation and protection bodies exist in the provinces of Canada. The Human Rights Code of Ontario is administered by the Ontario Human Rights Commission and the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. The province’s Human Rights Legal Support Centre also provides legal services to individuals. The British Columbia Human Rights Code created the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal, an independent, quasi-judicial body responsible for accepting, screening, mediating and adjudicating human rights complaints. The Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms covers civil and political rights as well as economic and social rights. The Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission is responsible for promoting and upholding the Quebec Charter and a Human Rights Tribunal hears cases referred by the Commission. 19. Minority spokespersons highlighted concerns regarding the erosion of avenues of redress for victims of discrimination. They note that in 2007 the investigatory powers of the Ontario Commission were diluted. Charges of political correctness, bias and criticism of evidential standards have reportedly served to create a negative environment in which Commissions conduct their work. Muslim representatives described a backlash against Commissions following cases that Muslim groups have asked them to consider. Some perceive this as a part of a wider climate of hostility against Muslims when they attempt to raise their concerns. 20. Minority spokespersons cite the abolition of the British Columbia Human Rights Commission in 2003 and attacks on other provincial or territorial bodies that provide accessible and affordable avenues of complaint. While cases are heard by the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal, the Commission is no longer available to assist victims with the preparation of cases, conduct investigations, prepare reports, offer advisory services, monitor government policy or conduct public education. 21. The Government notes that review of the British Columbia Human Rights Commission revealed inefficiencies, delays in processing complaints and a high percentage of complaints dismissed. British Columbia replaced the Commission with direct access to the Human Rights Tribunal. According to the Government, the Tribunal is reportedly able to process a complaint, notify respondents, provide mediation services and schedule a hearing date within six months, whereas some complaints previously took up to three years to resolve. A Human Rights Clinic provides assistance, including legal representation to eligible complainants and respondents. The Clinic is mandated to deliver a public education programme on the British Columbia Human Rights Code and deal with requests for information. 22. Minorities criticized the abolition of the Court Challenges Program. This national initiative, previously funded by the Department of Canadian Heritage, provided financial assistance to linguistic and disadvantaged minority groups and individuals to initiate court challenges which sought to clarify matters related to constitutional rights and freedoms, equality and official language rights. The Program was discussed positively in Canada’s 5 GE.10-11860 See Annual Report on the Operation of the Canadian Multiculturalism Act 2007–2008, part 3, available from www.cic.gc.ca/ENGLISH/resources/publications/multi-report2008/part3.asp. 7