I’ve been discriminated against in BC. What can I do?

Last reviewed October 2024 by the Clicklaw editors

The BC Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination based on race, colour, ancestry, Indigenous identity, place of origin, religion, marital status, family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and age.

Complaints

If you have been discriminated against in BC, you can make a complaint to the BC Human Rights Tribunal.

Their website explains how to file a complaint with links to the required forms. You can file your complaint online on a computer or smartphone, or by printing a complaint form, filling it out, and mailing or emailing it to the tribunal. (If you need help or want them to send you a form, just reach out to the tribunal.) You must file a complaint within one year of the incident you’re reporting.

There is also an information page about how to respond to a complaint.

You can file a complaint on behalf of someone else or a group of people even if you’re not part of that group. (See section 21 of the code.) But if the person who was discriminated against doesn’t want to move forward with it, or continuing the complaint isn’t in the best interest of the group you’re representing, the tribunal may not accept your complaint. They can also handle multiple complaints together if it seems fair and reasonable to do so.

If you’ve been discriminated against at work, and you work in a federally regulated industry, please see our common question “I work for a federally regulated industry (e.g. a bank, an airline, trucking, broadcasting) and I was discriminated against. What can I do?” This page talks about making complaints to the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

Helpful resources

  • Human Rights and Discrimination Protection (People’s Law School): This page has an overview of how the law protects people from discrimination.
  • Human Rights in BC: What You Need to Know (PDF) (Government of British Columbia): This fact sheet explains how the BC Human Rights Code protects you from discrimination and harassment and includes information on where to get help.
  • Tribunal Information Sheets and Guides (BC Human Rights Tribunal): This page contains useful information if you have a human rights complaint that is going to tribunal.
  • Rights by Community or Group (Government of British Columbia): This page includes links to information about rights related to specific communities and groups including children; women; Indigenous people; people with disabilities; and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons.
  • Discrimination in the Workplace (People’s Law School): This page explains how the BC Human Rights Code protects you on the job and what you can do if an employer discriminates against you.
  • LSLAP Manual: Human Rights (PDF) (Law Students’ Legal Advice Program): This chapter discusses what discrimination is and what your legal options are.

Helpful services

  • BC Human Rights Clinic (Community Legal Assistance Society (CLAS)): They provide legal services to people who need help with provincial human rights complaints.
  • The Law Centre at the University of Victoria: This service may provide legal advice, assistance, and representation for human rights complaints to eligible clients who live in the Capital Regional District and who can’t afford a lawyer.
  • Disability Law Clinic (Disability Alliance BC): This service provides free legal advice to people with disabilities about human rights and discrimination issues.
  • South Asian Legal Clinic of BC: They provide low-barrier and culturally sensitive legal support for low-income South Asian families dealing with racial discrimination and profiling. You’ll get a free 30-minute session for legal advice. Additional legal services are available if you’re eligible.
  • Find more services.