Yes No Share to Facebook
Human Rights:
Discrimination Cases Alleging Racism, Ageism, Sexism, and More!
Last Updated: July 03 2026
Question: How can a paralegal in Ontario help me file a Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario application for discrimination, and what happens after I submit it?
Answer: In Ontario, SFG Paralegal Services LLP can help you understand whether your situation may fall under the Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19, including discrimination in services, employment, accommodations, contractual relationships, and vocational associations, and then guide you through preparing and submitting the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario Application so your allegations are clearly presented to the Tribunal. If the Tribunal finds there is a genuine issue requiring adjudication, hearings follow where witnesses give evidence and an adjudicator decides whether to order remedies such as monetary compensation or other ways of making amends, and the Code also includes protection against reprisal for bringing a complaint. To discuss your options and next steps, call (888) 398-0121.
Understanding Human Rights Protections
In Ontario, everyone is protected against various types of discrimination as statutorily prescribed within the Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19, which forbids various concerns of discriminatory conduct within any of five (5) key protected areas which include access to services, to accommodations, to employment, to contractual relationships, and to vocational associations.
In seeking protections under the Human Rights Code, an Application can be brought to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario which will review the complaint, hear arguments from advocates, and adjudicate a decision with available remedies ranging from an Order of monetary compensation and/or forms of alternate resolution.
In addition to protections against discrimination, the Human Rights Code also includes provisions for protection against reprisal for seeking the protections provided for by the Human Rights Code. The reprisal protection assures that those who bring complaints to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario shall be free to do so without fear of recourse including intimidation or other wrongful responsive hardships.
Generally, with some exceptions, in regards to the five (5) key areas, the Human Rights Code states:
Every person has a right to equal treatment with respect to services, goods and facilities, without discrimination because of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status or disability.
Human Rights Issues Include:
Protection Against Racism
Ensures proper treatment for people of all colour.
Opportunity Regardless of Age
Includes assurances for the young and old and those in-between.
Acceptance Regardless of Origin
Provides equal welcome to persons from near or far.
Embracing of Various Sexualities
Assures freedom of individual sexuality including choice of gender.
Accessibility for Disabled Persons
Reduces struggle for those with limitations.
Indifference to Personal Status
Ensures security whether married, single, with children or without.
Furthermore, the characteristics protected from discrimination are broadly defined so as to help ensure a just determination and application of the intended protections. The various protected characteristics are defined within section 10 as follows:
“age” means an age that is 18 years or more; (“âge”)
“disability” means,
(a) any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical co-ordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device,
(b) a condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability,
(c) a learning disability, or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language,
(d) a mental disorder, or
(e) an injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997; (“handicap”)
“equal” means subject to all requirements, qualifications and considerations that are not a prohibited ground of discrimination; (“égal”)
“family status” means the status of being in a parent and child relationship; (“état familial”)
“group insurance” means insurance whereby the lives or well-being or the lives and well-being of a number of persons are insured severally under a single contract between an insurer and an association or an employer or other person; (“assurance-groupe”)
“harassment” means engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome; (“harcèlement”)
“marital status” means the status of being married, single, widowed, divorced or separated and includes the status of living with a person in a conjugal relationship outside marriage; (“état matrimonial”)
“record of offences” means a conviction for,
(a) an offence in respect of which a pardon has been granted under the Criminal Record Act (Canada) and has not been revoked, or
(b) an offence in respect of any provincial enactment; (“casier judiciaire”)
“services” does not include a levy, fee, tax or periodic payment imposed by law; (“services”)
“spouse” means the person to whom a person is married or with whom the person is living in a conjugal relationship outside marriage.
More Information Is Available About Human Rights...
Here are links to twelve (12) other webpages:
NOTE: A significant volume of online queries featuring “lawyers near me” or “best lawyer in” often illustrates a demand for prompt and proficient legal assistance, rather than a particular professional designation. In Ontario, “licensed paralegals” are governed by the same Law Society that supervises lawyers, allowing them to represent clients in specified litigation cases. Skills in advocacy, legal assessment, and procedural knowledge are fundamental to this position. SFG Paralegal Services LLP provides legal representation within its licensed parameters, focusing on strategic planning, evidence preparation, and compelling advocacy designed to secure efficient and advantageous outcomes for clients.

