Legal Services » The New Human Rights System in Ontario
 Links to Other Resources Minimize
The New Human Rights System in Ontario: What to do if you are facing discrimination or harassment
 
Ontario’s human rights system is there to help you if you feel that you have experienced discrimination or harassment. The system lets you make a complaint against a person or organization that has discriminated against you.
 
The human rights system changed a lot on June 30, 2008. The process for making a complaint is now very different.
 
Under the old system, you would have made your complaint to the Ontario Human Rights Commission. The Commission would have investigated your complaint. If it decided to support your complaint, it would have argued your case at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. Then the Tribunal would have made a decision on your case. One of the criticisms of the old system was that many complaints were dismissed before getting to a hearing.
 
Under the new system, all complaints will get a hearing but you must bring your complaint directly to the Tribunal. The Commission will not take part. You must argue your case yourself. A new organization, the Human Rights Legal Support Centre, can give you advice on how to present your case.
 
What to do if you feel you have been discriminated against or harassed
 
You should contact the Legal Support Centre. This Centre is a new organization that is there to provide you with advice and assistance in dealing with discrimination and harassment.
 
What to do if you already have a complaint at the Ontario Human Rights Commission
 
If you already made a human rights complaint before June 30, 2008, you would have made your complaint to the Commission. If the Commission is still investigating your complaint, you can choose to let this investigation continue. As in the old system, if the Commission decides to support your complaint, it will argue your case in a hearing at the Tribunal.
 
You can also choose to remove your complaint from the Commission and take it directly to the Tribunal. If you do this, the Commission will not participate in the hearing, so you will have to present your case yourself. You should contact the Legal Support Centre for advice.
 
If you transfer your complaint to the Tribunal before December 31, 2008, it will be put in a special fast-track process. This may not be a good idea if your case is complicated.
 
After January 1, 2009, you will still be able to transfer your complaint to the Tribunal’s fast-track process, but you will also be able to choose a full hearing instead. You should consider this option if your case is complicated.
 
Contact Information
 
Human Rights Legal Support Centre
(416) 326-1312
1-866-598-0322
 
Ontario Human Rights Commission
(416) 326-9511
1-800-387-9080
 
Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario
(416) 326-1312
1-866-598-0322
 
If you have any questions or need advice, you can also call York Community Services.
 Print    
Copyright 2007 by York Community Services    Terms Of Use    Privacy Statement        Login