E/CN.4/2001/21 page 26 59. Nova Scotia recognizes that visible minorities and aboriginal peoples may face systematic barriers in the education system, employment and housing. There is a long federal and provincial history of initiatives to reduce these barriers in Canada. Canada at the federal level has a Charter of Rights which is applicable to all laws of Canada and at the provincial level, has legislation in the Human Rights Act which prohibits racial discrimination. Under the Human Rights Act, the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission investigates and resolves complaints of individual and systematic discrimination and works to reduce, and it is hoped some day, to eradicate systematic discrimination through race relations and affirmative action initiatives, public education, public policy and public advocacy. 60. We believe that these comments will respond to the general allegations raised in the complaint of Dr. and Mrs. Ofume. It should be noted that Nova Scotia has no indigenous Métis or indigenous Inuit populations, which is suggested in the complaint respecting the general practice of discrimination in Nova Scotia. 61. With respect to the case of Dr. and Mrs. Ofume, we wish to advise and can confirm that both Dr. Phillip and Mrs. Maureen Ofume contacted the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission. Nova Scotia’s legislation with respect to protection of privacy of individuals prevents release of details with respect to their complaint. However, we have been advised by the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission that in February 1999, the Commission staff met with Dr. Phillip Ofume after having been contacted by an official at the school of Dr. and Mrs. Ofume’s children with a request that the Commission attempt to mediate disputes between Dr. Ofume and the school. Mediation sessions were scheduled but in the interim the situation changed so that the issues were no longer amenable to mediation. 62. In June 1999 Dr. Ofume contacted the Commission with concerns about his employment situation. His concerns were not jurisdictional in that they did not raise issues of discrimination. Dr. Ofume was referred to the Labour Standards section of the Department of Labour, which he subsequently contacted. 63. In October 1999 Maureen Ofume raised concerns of discrimination based on her race and/or colour and/or national origin in her training/employment situation. After a preliminary investigation, the Commission concluded that these concerns were not sustainable as a discrimination complaint and notified Mrs. Ofume accordingly. At the request of Mrs. Ofume’s trainer/employer, the Commission assisted in an attempt to resolve Mrs. Ofume’s concerns through a mediation session held in December 1999. Unfortunately, it was not possible to reach a resolution between the parties. 64. In an attempt to assist Dr. and Mrs. Ofume, the Commission also contacted a leader of the African community in this area and asked him to reach out to them. We believe that contact was made. 65. The Commission has no information with respect to Dr. and Mrs. Ofume’s other allegations concerning his unemployability, inequitable social assistance practices, and the difficulties that Dr. and Mrs. Ofume allege they have had in their neighbourhood.