Province Appoints New Acting Head of Alberta Human Rights Commission
Evaristus Oshionebo has been named the new interim head of the Alberta Human Rights Commission, after the provincial government overturned Collin May’s earlier appointment.
Oshionebo will serve as head of the Commission and Tribunals until March 26, 2023, or until the province appoints someone else, whichever comes first.
Oshionebo is a full professor and associate dean at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Law, specializing in business law, contract law and mining law, according to the commission’s website.
Prior to Calgary, Oshionebo taught at Osgoode Hall Law School and the University of Manitoba Law School.
Oshionebo holds a Bachelor of Laws from Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria and two Masters of Laws: one from the University of Lagos and one from the University of Alberta.
He also holds a Doctor of Philosophy from York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School.
The department congratulated him in an emailed statement to CBC Wednesday afternoon.
« We know that his skills, knowledge and experience, including his time on the commission, will serve him well in this acting role, » Justice Department spokesman Joseph Dow wrote in the statement. .
« [Oshionebo], a full professor at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Law, has experience in Canadian and African law. He will serve as interim chief until a permanent appointment as chief, which we are currently recruiting for. »
CBC News has contacted the commission for comment on Oshionebo’s nomination.
The appointment comes after May’s post as leader was rescinded following pressure from a Muslim advocacy group.
Earlier this month, Attorney General Tyler Shandro urged May to resign, after the band said May had failed to meet his promise to meet with the band over comments in a book review May had written 13 years ago that they considered Islamophobic.
May refused to resign. He hired attorney Kathryn Marshall, who said in an earlier statement that her client had done nothing wrong.
cbc
