All services provided by the Commission are available to the public without charge. The Human Rights Code prohibits unreasonable discrimination which is based on group characteristics such as ancestry, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, pregnancy and other gender determined characteristics, sexual orientation, marital or family status, source of income, political belief, and physical or mental disability.
The jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission is restricted to matters within the constitutional authority of the provincial legislature. Most activities carried on in the province fall within provincial jurisdiction; however complaints against certain federally regulated enterprises, such as airlines, railways and the federal civil service, should be filed with the Canadian Human Rights Commission. The staff of either commission will answer any questions regarding the appropriate jurisdiction to deal with a particular complaint.
The Board of Commissioners
Commissioners are selected from various geographic, cultural, social, and economic sectors
of the province. They are appointed for three year terms, on a staggered basis, and serve
on a part-time basis. There are ten Commissioners, one of whom is the Chairperson
and another the Vice-Chairperson.
The Board of Commissioners establishes the policies which determine the manner in which the professional staff administer the programs and activities of the agency. It is also the function of the Board to determine the appropriate disposition of all complaints, and to issue binding advisory opinions.
