Michael Gottheil

Michael Gottheil is Canada's first Accessibility Commissioner, appointed under the Accessible Canada Act.

Mr. Gottheil brings many years of leadership experience in the Administrative Justice sector, having previously served as Chief of Commission and Tribunals of the Alberta Human Rights Commission, Chair of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and Executive Chair of both the Environment and Land Tribunals Ontario and the Social Justice Tribunals Ontario. A graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School, he also practiced labour, employment and human rights law for close to 20 years. He is a frequent presenter at conferences and seminars, and has written widely on human rights, accessibility and inclusion, administrative law, institutional design and alternative models of dispute resolution.

Mr. Gottheil is a experienced adjudicator and mediator. He has contributed to the rich body of human rights and administrative law jurisprudence in Canada. He has also successfully resolved complex, multi-party matters in the private, public and broader public sectors. His various senior executive roles within the public sector has provided him with acute insights into the challenges and opportunities for creative resolutions of disputes involving important public policy issues.

Mr. Gottheil is committed to fostering collaboration between government, the private sector, community organizations and across civil society more broadly. He always seeks to find opportunities for practical, positive change across diverse interests. Mr. Gottheil understands that we all have both legal and civic responsibilities, as well as a moral obligation to make justice accessible and meaningful for those who need it most.

As a person with a disability, Mr. Gottheil has always been open to sharing his experiences, and to be inquisitive about other's differences, challenges and insights. He is a firm believer that by listening and hearing diverse perspectives, we all grow stronger, individually and as a community.