Seeking redress

Nearly half of all discrimination complaints in Canada are about disability.

Canadians with disabilities filed 20,615 discrimination complaints to various human rights commissions and tribunals across Canada between 2009 and 2013. This means that of the 41,728 total discrimination complaints, 49% are disability-related. These findings are consistent across all provincial, territorial and federal jurisdictions.

Across the board, Canadians with disabilities face disproportionately high levels of discrimination in employment and when receiving services.

The consistently high proportion of complaints related to disability over a five-year period across Canada, and the possibility that many persons with disabilities are unable to file complaints, may point to possible systemic discrimination.

Persons with disabilities can bring a claim before federal, territorial and provincial independent administrative tribunals, human rights commissions and tribunals or courts to enforce their rights.

When deciding how to lodge a complaint you must consider the jurisdictions of federal, provincial, territorial governments in Canada. Complaints must be registered within proper jurisdictions. For example, a complaint regarding unemployment insurance or banking would be made to the Canadian Human Rights Commission. A complaint regarding hospitals or schools would be made to the relevant provincial or territorial Human Rights Commission or Tribunal.