Quebec

Quebec has their Charter of Rights and Freedoms (commonly referred to as the Quebec Charter) and a Quebec Human Rights Tribunal, as well as, the Human Rights and Youth Rights Commission (French name, Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la Jeunesse), whose cases can be found here.

Grounds of Discrimination Recognized: race, colour, sex, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, civil status, age except as provided by law, religion, political convictions, language, ethnic or national origin, social condition, a handicap or the use of any means to palliate a handicap.

Areas of Application: Employment, Housing, and Tenancy. In addition to, Public Services, Public Transport, Public Places, of which the aforementioned three include: Businesses, restaurants and hotels, parks, campsites and caravan sites, schools and churches.

Procedure: Once the Commission receives a complaint it processes the complaint to see whether it is with merit and if the Commission will intervene on behalf of the complainant. If the Commission decides to intervene, the Commission will 1) investigate, 2) send the matter to arbitration or 3) send the matter to mediation or 4) close the file.

For a more detailed explanation of the complaint process, please refer to the Commission’s complaint procedure page here.

How to Begin a Complaint: If you believe you are subject to discrimination on a protected ground, you can write to, email or call the Commission and an intake worker will assist you in laying a complaint. You can find more information here. Please be prepared to provide them with important dates, names and contact info of witnesses and the facts of your complaint.

Limitation Periods: Within two years of the alleged occurrence.

Remedies:  Any unlawful interference with any right or freedom recognized by the Charter entitles the victim to obtain the termination of such interference and compensation for the moral or material prejudice resulting therefrom.  In case of unlawful and intentional interference, the tribunal may also award punitive damages to condemn the violation of Charter rights.

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