Count me in! COLLECTING HUMAN RIGHTS-BASED DATA

Table of contents 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2. When collecting data is a good idea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 3. Collecting data – consider the benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 4. Overcoming challenges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 5. Collecting data in a Code -consistent way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 ❖ Collect data for a Code -consistent purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 ❖ Inform the public . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 ❖ Consult affected communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 ❖ Use the least intrusive means . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 ❖ Anonymity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 ❖ Distinguish between collection, use and disclosure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 ❖ Information and privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 6. What is involved in collecting data – six steps to success . . . . . . . . . . . 21 ❖ Step 1: Identify issues and/or opportunities for collecting data . . . . . . . 22 ❖ Step 2: Select issue(s) and/or opportunity(ies) and set goals . . . . . . . . 26 ❖ Step 3: Plan an approach and methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . – Who will the data be collected about? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . – Who will the group of interest be compared to? . . . . . . . . . . . – What locations or geographical areas will the data be gathered from? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . – What categories will be used to identify the group of interest and comparator group? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . – How should data be collected? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . – What sources of data should be used to collect information? . . . – How long will the data be collected (the scope of data collection)?

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❖ Step 4: Collect data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

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❖ Step 5: Analyze and interpret data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 ❖ Step 6: Act on results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Appendices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Appendix A – Mount Sinai Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Appendix B – KPMG Canada

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Appendix C – Keewatin-Patricia District School Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Appendix D – TD Bank Financial Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 Appendix E – University of Guelph . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Appendix F – DiverseCity Counts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Appendix G – OHRC guides, policies and guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Endnotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

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Count me in! – Collecting human rights-based data

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Introduction Many people think that collecting and analyzing data that identifies people on the basis of race, disability, sexual orientation and other Ontario Human Rights Code1 (the Code) grounds is not allowed. But collecting data on Code grounds for a Code -consistent purpose is permitted, and is in accordance with Canada’s human rights legislative framework, including the Code, the Canadian Human Rights Act,2 the federal Employment Equity Act,3 and section 15(2) of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.4 The Ontario Human Rights Commission (th