British Columbia

British Columbia has a Human Rights Code and the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal, of which many of their decisions can be found here.
The British Columbia Human Rights Commission had been previously disassembled, but it appears as though there is a political commitment to reinstating the Commission.

Grounds of Discrimination Recognized: Race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or age.

Areas of Application: Services or Facilities customarily available to the public, the Purchase of Property, Occupying Tenancy, Employment Advertisements, Wages, Employment, Membership in Unions or Associations, Harassment, and Reprisals.

Procedure:  Once a complaint is filed, the BCHRT decides if it has the jurisdiction to hear the complaint and may ask the respondent to file a written response to the complaint.

The tribunal’s job is to resolve human rights complaints in a way that is fair to both parties, it does this by helping the parties settle the complaint, deciding to hold preliminary applications to dismiss complaints or holdings hearings at the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal.

How to Begin a Complaint: Go to the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal website, more specifically File a Complaint page, located here. You can email, fax, mail or hand deliver your complaint form. The BC Human Rights Clinic can help complainants with their complaints, visit their page here.The Law Centre and the University of Victoria Faculty of Law can also help with your applications, visit their page here.

Limitation Periods: A complaint must be filed within six (6) months of the alleged contravention. However, an extension to this may be granted if it is in the public interest to accept the complaint, and will not cause substantial prejudice to any person due to the delay.

Remedies: The tribunal can order a cease and refrain order, a declaratory order, order to fulfill what a complainant was denied, compensate complainants for lost wages, expenses, injury to dignity, feelings and self-respect and award interest.

This content has been updated on 23 February 2023 at 11 h 28 min.