Find out if you are in the right place

Discrimination complaints under federal jurisdiction

In Canada, human rights are protected by federal, provincial and territorial laws. We refer to these as jurisdictions. The Canadian Human Rights Commission only deals with discrimination complaints under federal jurisdiction. Complaints filed under the Canadian Human Rights Act (CHRA) must be about federally regulated employers, federally regulated employee organizations, and or federally regulated service providers.

Sometimes complaints can be made against an individual, like in cases of discriminatory harassment. But overall, the Commission deals with complaints related to federally regulated organizations, including:

  • federal government departments, Crown corporations and agencies
  • air transportation, including airlines, airports, aerodromes and aircraft operations
  • banks, including authorized foreign banks
  • grain elevators, feed and seed mills, feed warehouses and grain-seed cleaning plants
  • First Nation governments (including certain community services)
  • most federal Crown corporations, for example, Canada Post Corporation
  • port services, marine shipping, ferries, tunnels, canals, bridges and pipelines (oil and gas) that cross international or provincial borders
  • radio and television broadcasting
  • railways that cross provincial or international borders and some short-line railways
  • road transportation services, including trucks and buses, that cross provincial or international
  • telecommunications, such as, telephone, Internet, telegraph and cable systems
  • uranium mining and processing and atomic energy
  • any business that is “vital, essential or integral to the operation” of one of the activities previously mentioned

There are many other organizations in Canada also responsible for helping people when they are treated unfairly, such as in the following situations.

Examples of situations

Human rights complaint against a private business

If you want to file a human rights complaint against a private business such as a retail store, a restaurant, a gas station, or an insurance company, etc., visit your provincial or territorial human rights agency.

Human rights complaint against a provincial or territorial government

If you want to file a complaint against a provincial or territorial human rights government, visit your provincial or territorial human rights agency.

Complaint related to accessibility

If you make a complaint to the Commission for unfair treatment related to accessibility, we may refer you to another organization that is better suited to address your issue.

For example, one of these organizations listed may be more appropriate to deal with your accessibility complaint.

Dismissal from a job

Who you file your complaint to depends on your situation.

You have four options, depending on your situation:

Option 1 – You should file a complaint with the Commission and at the same time file a grievance with your union if:

  • you have been dismissed from a federally regulated organization
  • you belong to a union
  • you can link the reason you were fired to any of the grounds of discrimination listed in the Canadian Human Rights Act

Option 2 – You should file a complaint with the Commission and at the same time go to the Canada Labour Program if:

  • you have been dismissed from a federally regulated organization
  • you are not unionized
  • you can link the reason you were fired to any of the grounds of discrimination listed in the Canadian Human Rights Act

Important: The Canada Labour Program or your union may handle your complaint first. But if your human rights were not appropriately addressed, you can return to the Commission. By engaging both organizations at the same time, you are still meeting the one-year filing requirement under the Canadian Human Rights Act. And it means your complaint is now in our queue should you decide to return to the Commission.

Option 3 – You should go solely to the Canada Labour Program if:

  • you have been dismissed from a federally regulated organization
  • you are not unionized
  • you cannot link the reason you think you were fired to any of the grounds listed in the Canadian Human Rights Act

Option 4 – You should go to your provincial or territorial human rights agency if:

  • you have been dismissed from a provincial or territorial government department or organization, or from a private business, such as a restaurant or a store

Help with the immigration process

If you need help with the immigration process, visit Immigration and Citizenship Canada’s website for more information.

Complaint related to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

If you need help filing a complaint related to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, contact a lawyer. If you don't know a lawyer, you might find it helpful to use the list of provincial and territorial Legal Aid services.

Police report or criminal matter

To find out how file a police report or report a criminal matter, contact your local police or local RCMP.

Mistreatment by the police and complaint about police conduct

Who you file your complaint to depends on your situation.

  • You should file a complaint with the Commission and at the same time go to the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP if:

    • you were mistreated by a member of the RCMP
    • you can link the reason you were mistreated to any of the grounds of discrimination listed in the Canadian Human Rights Act

    Important: The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission may handle your complaint first. But if your human rights have not been appropriately addressed, you can return to the Commission. By engaging both organizations at the same time, you are still meeting the one-year filing requirement under the Canadian Human Rights Act. And it means your complaint is now in our queue should you decide to return to the Commission.

  • You should go to your provincial or territorial human rights agency and/or your provincial organization that deals with local police complaints if:
    • you were mistreated by a representative of your local or provincial police department

Complaint related to Canada's official languages

To find how to file a complaint related to Canada's official languages, visit the Office of the Commissioner of Official Languages website.

Personal dispute

To find an Alternative Dispute Resolution Practitioner near you, visit the ADR Institute of Canada (adric.ca)

Did you find what you were looking for?Yes No

Did you find what you were looking for?

Yes No