Quebec

The Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms (CHRF) sanctions discrimination in the following areas: work, housing, legal acts, services, transportation and public places.

The Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse (Commission) was created in 1976 by the CHRF. Its current name and mission are the result of the 1995 merger of the Human Rights Commission and the Commission de protection des droits de la jeunesse. Its mission includes the following responsibilities: informing the public, investigating situations of discrimination, making recommendations to the Quebec government, producing and promoting research and publications on human rights and freedoms, providing advice on reasonable accommodation to employers and decision-makers, ensuring compliance with equality access programs, and cooperating with all organizations dedicated to promoting human rights and freedoms.

The Quebec Human Rights Tribunal (Tribunal) has jurisdiction to hear and deal with disputes regarding discrimination, harassment and exploitation prohibited by the CHRF.

What are the prohibited grounds of discrimination? Race, colour, sex, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, sexual orientation, civil status, age except as provided by law, religion, political convictions, language, ethnic or national origin, social condition, a handicap or the use of any means to palliate a handicap.

What are the deadlines for filing a complaint? The complaint must be filed within three years of the alleged discrimination (six months if the facts involve a police service or a municipality). However, the Commission may decide not to process the complaint if the facts date back more than two years.

What is the procedure? Once the Commission has received your complaint, it will decide whether or not it is founded and whether or not it will intervene on your behalf before the Tribunal. The Commission will decide whether to intervene, investigate, refer the matter to arbitration or mediation, send the matter to court or close the file.

How do I file a complaint? To file a complaint, fill out the online form.

What compensation can you get? The Court can order the cessation of the infringement and compensation for the resulting moral or material damage and, in some cases, order the perpetrator to pay punitive damages.

This content has been updated on 4 March 2023 at 11 h 04 min.