BC Human Rights Tribunal
1270 – 605 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B 5J3
E-mail: BCHumanRightsTribunal@gov.bc.ca
Website: bchrt.bc.ca
Telephone: (604) 775-2000
TTY: (604) 775-2021
Toll-free in BC: 1-888-440-8844
Fax: (604) 775-2020
An independent, quasi-judicial body created by the BC Human Rights Code, responsible for accepting, screening, mediating, and adjudicating provincial human rights complaints. The website is very helpful. The Guides and Information Sheets provide thorough procedural information in English, Chinese, and Punjabi. The Tribunal’s decisions dating back to 1997 are available online through the BC HRT website, and are also available on CanLII BC.
The BC Human Rights Clinic
300 – 1140 West Pender Street Vancouver, BC, V6E 4G1
Website: bchrc.net
Telephone: (604) 622-1100
Toll-free in Canada: 1-855-685-6222
Fax: (604) 685-7611
The BC Human Rights Clinic is operated by the Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS) and is funded by the BC Ministry of Justice. The Clinic provides free legal representation to low-income claimants or those unable to represent themselves before the BC Human Rights Tribunal due to lack of capacity or disability. It also provides a free short service Drop-In Clinic on Mondays between 9:30 am and 4:00 pm.
The BC Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA)
550 – 1188 West Georgia Street Vancouver,BC V6E 4A2
Website: bccla.org
Telephone: (604) 630-9748
Fax: (604) 687-3045
E-mail: info@bccla.org
If your legal issue implicates Charter rights, the BCCLA may provide assistance.
The Canadian Human Rights Commission
Website: chrc-ccdp.ca
Western Region Canada Place
Suite 1645, 9700 Jasper Avenue P.O. Box 21, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4C3
Telephone: (780) 495-4040
TTY: 1-888-643-3304
Toll-Free: 1-888-214-1090
Fax: (780) 495-4044
National Office
344 Slater Street, 8th Floor, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1E1
Telephone: (613) 995-1151
TTY: 1-888-643-3304
Toll-free: 1-888-214-1090
Fax: (613) 996-9661
The Commission can independently initiate federal human rights complaints, but normally assists in their drafting and investigates complaints lodged by individuals or organizations. If insufficient evidence of discrimination is presented, the Commission can dismiss the complaint. If the Commission finds that the allegations of discrimination warrant mediation or adjudication, it can refer the case to conciliation or to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal for a hearing.
The BC Office of the Human Rights Commissioner
#750, 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC, V6C 3E1
Website: bchumanrights.ca
Telephone: 1-844-922-6472 (voicemail box)
E-mail: info@bchumanrights.ca
Kasari Govender was appointed as BC’s first Independent Human Rights Commissioner on September 3, 2019. The Commission will promote human rights, undertake research and offer public education and outreach. It will also examine human rights implications of any policy, program or legislation and make recommendations if aspects of policy, programs or legislation are inconsistent with the Human Rights Code. Finally, although the Commission will not have the power to file human rights complaints, it will have the power to intervene in complaints before the Human Rights Tribunal. See s 47.12 of the BC Human Rights Code for a full list of the commissioner’s powers.
