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 an 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.
 
Contact Information
 
Human Rights Legal Support Centre
(416) 326-1312
1-866-598-0322
www.hrlsc.on.ca
 
Ontario Human Rights Commission
(416) 326-9511
1-800-387-9080
www.ohrc.on.ca
 
Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario
(416) 326-1312
1-866-598-0322
www.hrto.ca
 
If you have any questions or need advice, you can also call the Legal Clinic at Unison Health and Community Services.

Human Rights Legal Support Centre
(416) 326-1312
1-866-598-0322
www.hrlsc.on.ca
 
Ontario Human Rights Commission
(416) 326-9511
1-800-387-9080
www.ohrc.on.ca
 
Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario
(416) 326-1312
1-866-598-0322
www.hrto.ca