Who handles human rights?
Human Rights
Human rights are protected at all levels. Federal has the Canadian Human Rights Act, every province and territory has its own human rights code or act, and municipalities implement local equity policies.
⚠️ Shared Jurisdiction: This area involves multiple levels of government. The information below shows the primary responsibility at each level, but overlap is common. When in doubt, start with the level most directly related to your issue.
Federal
Parliament of Canada
- ● Canadian Human Rights Act
- ● Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- ● Canadian Human Rights Commission
- ● Federal equality protections
💡 Example: File a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
Provincial
Provincial Legislature
- ● Provincial human rights codes/acts (every province has one: Ontario Human Rights Code, BC Human Rights Code, Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, Alberta Human Rights Act, etc.)
- ● Provincial human rights tribunals
- ● Provincial anti-discrimination protections
- ● Workplace and service accommodation
💡 Example: File a complaint with your provincial human rights tribunal or commission.
Municipal
City / Town Hall
- ● Municipal human rights policies and committees
- ● Community anti-discrimination programs
- ● Municipal equity and inclusion initiatives
- ● Local human rights events
💡 Example: Contact your councillor about municipal equity initiatives.
Quick Reference — Who to Contact
🏛️ Federal
Your Member of Parliament (MP)
🏢 Provincial
Your MPP, MLA, or MNA
🏘️ Municipal
Your City Councillor
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