Canadian Human Rights Tribunal – Ottawa, ON

Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT)

Adjudicating Discrimination Complaints

The Canadian Human Rights Tribunal is an independent, quasi-judicial body located at 240 Sparks Street in Ottawa. Its mandate is to inquire into complaints of discrimination under the Canadian Human Rights Act that have been referred to it by the Canadian Human Rights Commission. The Tribunal operates similarly to a court of law but with less formal rules, hearing evidence and arguments from all parties involved in a dispute to determine if a discriminatory practice has occurred.

Tribunal Functions

• Hearings: Conducts fair and impartial public hearings regarding discrimination based on prohibited grounds such as race, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, and disability.
• Mediation: Offers mediation services to help parties resolve disputes voluntarily without proceeding to a full hearing.
• Rulings: Issues enforceable decisions and can order remedies, such as financial compensation or changes to policies, if discrimination is found.

Important for Visitors

The Tribunal deals strictly with cases within federal jurisdiction (e.g., federal government departments, banks, airlines, telecommunications). It does not investigate complaints; that is the role of the Commission. The offices on Sparks Street are administrative. While hearings are generally open to the public, parties wishing to file documents or access case files are encouraged to contact the Registry via email or phone first, as many procedures are now handled digitally.