Statistics
In any given year, the Canadian Human Rights Commission helps thousands of people determine whether they have a valid human rights complaint. In many cases, the Commission helps people resolve their issues quickly and informally, or find the appropriate process to resolve their concerns.
Only a fraction of the people who contact the Commission file a formal discrimination complaint.
The statistics below report on formal written complaints handled by the Commission in 2016.
By law, the Commission must consider every discrimination complaint it receives. The Commission can decide not to deal with the complaint or refer it to an alternative dispute resolution mechanism. When possible, the Commission encourages people to try to resolve their disputes informally and at the earliest opportunity. In the event no agreement is reached, the Commission may conduct an investigation. When warranted, the Commission can refer the case to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal for a hearing.
Complaints filed with the Commission in 2016
1,488
complaints receivedGo to footnote 1
816
complaints acceptedGo to footnote 2
358
complaints referred to another redress processGo to footnote 3
268
complaints settled
164
complaints dismissed
41
complaints referred to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal
100
complaints not dealt withGo to footnote 4
Return to footnote 1 A received complaint, also known as a potential complaint, is a contact that falls within the mandate of the Commission, and that may lead to an accepted complaint after analysis and review.
Return to footnote 2 An accepted complaint is a document, in a form acceptable to the Commission, that is filed by an individual or group of individuals having reasonable grounds for believing that a person or organization is engaging or has engaged in a discriminatory practice.
Return to footnote 3 The number of complaints referred to another redress process includes those that were referred to the Public Service Labour Relations Board or the Public Service Staffing Tribunal before they became accepted complaints.
Return to footnote 4 The Commission can decide not to deal with complaints for any of the reasons listed under section 41 of the Canadian Human Rights Act (e.g. the complaint fell outside of the Commission’s jurisdiction, the complaint was frivolous, vexatious or made in bad faith, etc.)
Figure 21
Complaints received by province or territory
Province or territory
2014
2015
2016
Newfoundland and Labrador
--
--
--
--
--
--
Prince Edward Island
--
--
--
--
--
--
Nova Scotia
44
3%
36
3%
68
5%
New Brunswick
34
2%
38
3%
51
3%
Quebec
147
11%
160
13%
162
11%
Ontario
653
48%
583
48%
636
43%
Manitoba
60
4%
52
4%
94
6%
Saskatchewan
28
2%
28
2%
58
4%
Alberta
161
12%
126
10%
148
10%
British Columbia
199
15%
167
14%
234
16%
Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Outside of Canada
--
--
--
--
--
--
Total
1,364
100%
1,207
100%
1,488
100%
The percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
-- Rows suppressed when one or more values cannot be published for confidentiality reasons.
Figure 32
Complaints received by type of respondents
2014
2015
2016
Private Sector
585
43%
492
41%
641
43%
Federal Government*
616
45%
588
49%
702
47%
Reserves, Bands and Councils
91
7%
81
7%
84
6%
Unions
44
3%
24
2%
28
2%
Individuals
28
2%
22
2%
33
2%
Total
1,364
100%
1,207
100%
1,488
100%
The percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
*Includes employers in the core public administration, separate federal government organizations or agencies and Crown corporations.
Figure 43
Complaints received by type of allegation cited
2014
2015
2016
Employment-related (sections 7,8,10,11)
1,347
70%
1,145
65%
1,394
64%
Services-related (sections 5,6)
376
19%
391
22%
553
25%
Harassment - employment (section 14)
138
7%
155
9%
158
7%
Union membership (section 9)
--
--
--
--
--
--
Retaliation (section 14.1)
23
1%
25
1%
37
2%
Harassment - services (section 14)
12
1%
23
1%
31
1%
Notices, signs, symbols (section 12)
--
--
--
--
--
--
Intimidation (section 59)
0
0%
0
0%
0
0%
Total
1,937
100%
1,759
100%
2,185
100%
Total number of allegations cited exceeds the total number of received complaints because some complaints dealt with more than one allegation.
The percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
-- Rows suppressed when one or more values cannot be published for confidentiality reasons.
Figure 54
Complaints accepted by province or territory
Province or territory
2014
2015
2016
Newfoundland and Labrador
--
--
--
--
--
--
Prince Edward Island
--
--
--
--
--
--
Nova Scotia
18
3%
15
2%
33
4%
New Brunswick
16
2%
15
2%
25
3%
Quebec
86
12%
75
12%
79
10%
Ontario
343
48%
305
48%
367
45%
Manitoba
29
4%
31
5%
46
6%
Saskatchewan
13
2%
13
2%
29
4%
Alberta
77
11%
64
10%
78
10%
British Columbia
116
16%
103
16%
142
17%
Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Outside of Canada
--
--
--
--
--
--
Total
720
100%
630
100%
816
100%
The percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
-- Rows suppressed when one or more values cannot be published for confidentiality reasons.
Figure 65
Complaints accepted by type of respondents
2014
2015
2016
Private Sector
407
57%
341
54%
428
52%
Federal Government*
216
30%
206
33%
308
38%
Reserves, Bands and Councils
53
7%
57
9%
50
6%
Unions
--
--
--
--
--
--
Individuals
--
--
--
--
--
--
Total
720
100%
630
100%
816
100%
*Includes employers in the core public administration, separate federal government organizations or agencies and Crown corporations.
The percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
-- Rows suppressed when one or more values cannot be published for confidentiality reasons.
Figure 76
Complaints accepted by type of allegation cited
2014
2015
2016
Employment-related (sections 7,8,10,11)
812
68%
692
64%
884
64%
Services-related (sections 5,6)
210
18%
250
23%
323
23%
Harassment - employment (section 14)
109
9%
99
9%
118
8%
Union membership (section 9)
--
--
--
--
--
--
Retaliation (section 14.1)
25
2%
19
2%
28
2%
Harassment - services (section 14)
--
--
--
--
--
--
Notices, signs, symbols (section 12)
--
--
--
--
--
--
Intimidation (section 59)
0
0%
0
0%
0
0%
Total
1,194
100%
1,089
100%
1,389
100%
The percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
-- Rows suppressed when one or more values cannot be published for confidentiality reasons
Total number of allegations cited exceeds the total number of received complaints because some complaints dealt with more than one allegation.
Figure 87
Final decisions by type
2014
2015
2016
Section 40/41 Analysis*
283
260
234
Dismissed
217
155
164
Settled**
293
226
268
Referred to Tribunal
70
46
41
Total
863
687
707
* Under section 40/41 of the Act, the Commission may decide not to deal with a complaint because the complainant ought to pursue another redress mechanism, the incident occurred too long ago, or because the complaint is out of jurisdiction, or considered trivial, frivolous or vexatious.
** Total number of settlements includes all settlements reached between parties, with or without help from the Commission.