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Human Rights:
Discrimination Cases Alleging Racism, Ageism, Sexism, and More!
Last Updated: July 03 2026
Question: How can Kush Law help me file a Human Rights Code complaint at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario if I experienced discrimination in services, employment, or housing in Ontario?
Answer: ? If you experienced discrimination or harassment in Ontario, Kush Law can help you assess whether the facts fall within the Human Rights Code (R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19) and guide you through preparing and filing your application to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, including identifying the protected grounds, documenting key timelines, and explaining possible remedies such as an order for monetary compensation and/or alternate resolution Kush Law also reviews potential reprisal issues, so you understand your options if retaliation occurred after you raised a concern or supported a complaint Call (905) 460-5073 to speak with a lawyer about your situation and the fastest next steps in Brampton, Toronto, and surrounding communities across Ontario.
Understanding Human Rights Protections
In Ontario, everyone is protected against various types of discrimination as statutorily prescribed within the Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19, which forbids various concerns of discriminatory conduct within any of five (5) key protected areas which include access to services, to accommodations, to employment, to contractual relationships, and to vocational associations.
In seeking protections under the Human Rights Code, an Application can be brought to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario which will review the complaint, hear arguments from advocates, and adjudicate a decision with available remedies ranging from an Order of monetary compensation and/or forms of alternate resolution.
In addition to protection from discriminatory treatment, the Human Rights Code contains provisions to protect complainants from being subjected to reprisals as a retaliation for bringing discriminatory concerns to the attention of the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. This protection against reprisals helps to ensure that those complainants who bring a matter to attention are without hesitation that may otherwise occur due to a fear of retaliation by intimidation, further discrimination, or other illicit response.
Generally, with some exceptions, in regards to the five (5) key areas, the Human Rights Code states:
Every person has a right to equal treatment with respect to services, goods and facilities, without discrimination because of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status or disability.
Human Rights Issues Include:
Protection Against Racism
Ensures proper treatment for people of all colour.
Opportunity Regardless of Age
Includes assurances for the young and old and those in-between.
Acceptance Regardless of Origin
Provides equal welcome to persons from near or far.
Embracing of Various Sexualities
Assures freedom of individual sexuality including choice of gender.
Accessibility for Disabled Persons
Reduces struggle for those with limitations.
Indifference to Personal Status
Ensures security whether married, single, with children or without.
Furthermore, the characteristics protected from discrimination are broadly defined so as to help ensure a just determination and application of the intended protections. The various protected characteristics are defined within section 10 as follows:
“age” means an age that is 18 years or more; (“âge”)
“disability” means,
(a) any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical co-ordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device,
(b) a condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability,
(c) a learning disability, or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language,
(d) a mental disorder, or
(e) an injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997; (“handicap”)
“equal” means subject to all requirements, qualifications and considerations that are not a prohibited ground of discrimination; (“égal”)
“family status” means the status of being in a parent and child relationship; (“état familial”)
“group insurance” means insurance whereby the lives or well-being or the lives and well-being of a number of persons are insured severally under a single contract between an insurer and an association or an employer or other person; (“assurance-groupe”)
“harassment” means engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome; (“harcèlement”)
“marital status” means the status of being married, single, widowed, divorced or separated and includes the status of living with a person in a conjugal relationship outside marriage; (“état matrimonial”)
“record of offences” means a conviction for,
(a) an offence in respect of which a pardon has been granted under the Criminal Record Act (Canada) and has not been revoked, or
(b) an offence in respect of any provincial enactment; (“casier judiciaire”)
“services” does not include a levy, fee, tax or periodic payment imposed by law; (“services”)
“spouse” means the person to whom a person is married or with whom the person is living in a conjugal relationship outside marriage.
