Human Rights and Discrimination

Provincial human rights statutes generally state that every person has a right to equal treatment with respect to employment without discrimination based on race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, age, record of offences, marital status, family status, sexual orientation or handicap.

The Ontario Human Rights Code is the legislation that protects employees against discrimination in the workplace in Ontario. Similarly, the Canadian Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination at federally regulated businesses such as banks, airlines and telecommunication companies.

Workplace human rights violations usually involve issues of hiring, firing, drug testing, promotional decisions, harassment, sexual harassment, accommodation of disabilities or illnesses, religious accommodation and discriminatory practices.

If you believe that you have been discriminated against at work, you have the right to file a complaint with the appropriate human rights tribunal or commission, where an adjudicator will ultimately have the ability to rule on the merits of your complaint.

Read our employment law articles about Human Rights and Discrimination for more information.