Human rights laws in Canada

Canada has 14 distinct legal jurisdictions that govern employment relationships, including the management of human rights in the workplace. Depending on the nature of your business, your obligations as an employer may be governed by federal, provincial or territorial human rights codes.

Human rights laws identify employee rights and employer obligations throughout the employment lifecycle. These laws also support the creation of diverse, inclusive and respectful work environments across Canada.

Federal human rights obligations

Roughly 6% of employers in Canada are federally regulated. This includes industries such as banking, telecommunications and interprovincial or international transportation. The Canadian Human Rights Act applies to these organizations, even if their operations span multiple provinces or territories. Federally regulated employers must:

• Comply with protections against discrimination and harassment.
• Uphold equal opportunity and accessibility.
• Meet additional requirements under the Employment Equity Act, which promotes representation of women, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities and visible minorities in federally regulated workplaces.

Provincial and territorial human rights obligations

Each province and territory has its own human rights code, which generally provides that every employee has the right to equal treatment in employment without discrimination or harassment. Protected grounds include, but are not limited to, race, age, sex, disability, religion and family status.

The right to “equal treatment with respect to employment” applies across the entire employment relationship — including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, training, promotions, compensation, benefits, performance management, discipline, workplace policies and termination. Employers have a duty to accommodate employees to the point of undue hardship, ensuring fair treatment and accessibility in the workplace.

Helpful resources

For more details on Canadian human rights laws, visit:

• Canadian Human Rights Commission
• Canadian Human Rights Act
• Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
• Employment Equity Act

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