Dealing With Discrimination

Discrimination is unfair differential or negative treatment of certain individuals or groups based on grounds such as race, gender, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital status, age, disability, citizenship, etc. Discrimination can include denial of service, refusal to hire, differential wages, or a refusal to accommodate such as refusing to accommodate religious clothing or articles of faith in a uniform.

Harassment is a type of discrimination and includes comments or behaviour that is insulting on the base of race, gender, religion, place of origin, etc. Examples of harassment include racial jokes and insults and displaying insulting posters or cartoons.

A person’s right to freely practice their faith is protected in Canada at 2 different levels. Where discrimination is alleged to have occurred by a governmental organization or agency, protection may be afforded under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (“Charter”). Where discrimination is alleged to have been done by an individual, employer, public facility, or other group or agency, protection may be afforded under the federal or provincial Human Rights Codes. Click on this link to visit the websites of the provincial human rights commissions and to read their Codes.