By Alix Herber and Keri Bennett

Human Rights Tribunals across Canada are constantly expanding the interpretation of prohibited grounds. Ontario has recently joined Manitoba and the Northwest Territories and gone one step further by recognizing gender identity as a prohibited ground. read more…

by Alix Herber

Human rights legislation protects a wide range of individuals in Canada. It prohibits harassment and discrimination in employment on obvious grounds such as age, ethnic origin, gender, and disability. It also prohibits harassment and discrimination in many provinces on less obvious grounds, such as record of offenses and sexual orientation. And that less obvious list appears to be growing, with the introduction of gender identity and gender expression to the list of prohibited grounds in Ontario.

Bill 33

Bill 33, known as Toby’s Act or the Right to be Free from Discrimination and Harassment Because of Gender Identity or Gender Expression, 2012, provides that every person has the right to equal treatment without discrimination because of gender identity or gender expression in the provision of services, goods and facilities, accommodation, contracting, employment, and membership in a trade union. It was passed into law on June 19. read more…