Protecting your Human Rights with Dignity and Respect

HillCowan represents individuals with human rights complaints at the Ontario Human Rights Commission, the Canadian Human Rights Commission, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, and the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal.

The Ontario Human Rights Code governs the conduct of both the private and public sectors including the conduct between individuals within certain social areas. Specifically, the Code provides that everyone has the right to be free of discrimination in the following five areas of social activity:

• Employment
• Services, goods and facilities
• Accommodating (housing)
• Contracts
• Membership in vocational associations, including trade unions

There are 14 prohibited grounds of discrimination and they apply to the following pursuant to Subsection 5(1) of theOntario Human Rights Code:

• Race
• Ancestry
• Place of origin
• Colour
• Ethnic origin
• Citizenship
• Creed (religion)
• Sex, including gender identity and pregnancy
• Sexual orientation
• Marital status
• Family status
• Age
• Record of Offences
• Disability (mental, physical and perceived)

The following seven discriminatory practices are prohibited by the Canadian Human Rights Act when they are based on one or more of the 14 grounds of discrimination:

• Denying someone goods, services, facilities or accommodation.
• Providing someone goods, services, facilities or accommodation in a way that treats them adversely and differently.
• Refusing to employ or continue to employ someone, or treating them unfairly in the workplace.
• Following policies or practices that deprive people of employment opportunities.
• Paying men and women differently when they are doing work of the same value.
• Retaliating against a person who has filed a complaint with the Commission or against someone who has filed a complaint for them.
• Harassing someone.

HillCowan will work with you to assess whether or not there are grounds or proof for discrimination before commencing a legal proceeding.  To prove discrimination, it is imperative to show that it is more likely than not that, in all of the circumstances related to your matter that discrimination was a factor in the events/actions that gave rise to your application.

Request a free initial half-hour consultation.

By Appointment Only

To better assist you, bring us all your relevant documentation.

Call: 289-201-1724