The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT) is responsible for applying the principles of the Canadian Human Rights Act, which is designed to protect individuals from discrimination. The Act states that all Canadians have the right to equality, equal opportunity, fair treatment, and an environment free of discrimination. The Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy), marital status, family status, sexual orientation, disability (including drug dependency) or pardoned criminal conviction. Maintaining wage differences between male and female workers performing work of equal value in the same establishment is also prohibited by the Act.

Tribunal performance reports

The Act applies only to federally regulated employers and service providers, such as federal government departments and agencies, federal Crown corporations, chartered banks, airlines, shipping and inter-provincial trucking companies, and telecommunications and broadcasting organizations. The Act also prohibits telecommunications and Internet messages that are likely to expose people to hatred or contempt because of their race, ethnic origin, sexual orientation or other prohibited grounds of discrimination.

The Tribunal, a quasi-judicial body, hears complaints of discrimination referred to it by the Canadian Human Rights Commission, and decides whether the given activity is a discriminatory practice that violates the Act. The Tribunal also has the authority to hear complaints under the Employment Equity Act, which applies to federal government employees and to federally regulated private sector employers with more than 100 employees. The Tribunal is similar to a court of law; but it is less formal and hears only cases related to discrimination. Like a court, the Tribunal is strictly impartial. Unlike a court, the Tribunal provides an informal setting where the parties can present their cases without legal representation and without adhering to strict rules of evidence. Parties call witnesses or testify on their own behalf, and witnesses are subject to cross-examination. Documentary evidence is permitted. Final arguments are made at the end of the hearing. The Tribunal consists of human rights adjudicators and mediators with a great wealth of experience in these roles. If the complainant and respondent are willing, a Tribunal member may be assigned to help them achieve a mediated settlement. If mediation is refused or fails to produce a settlement, a Tribunal member will hear the complaint and render a written decision. The parties may elect to settle the complaint at any time before the Tribunal renders its decision. Tribunal decisions are subject to review by the Federal Court at the request of any of the parties.

Administrative responsibility for the Tribunal rests with a Registry that plans and arranges hearings, and acts as a liaison between the parties and Tribunal members. The Registry is also responsible for managing the operating resources allocated to the Tribunal by Parliament. Details of Registry activities, including recent developments in comptrollership, management accountability and public administration, can be found in the Tribunal’s performance reports.

• Message from the Chairperson
• The Year in Review
• Tribunal Decisions and Membership