About Us

About the Commission

Ontario's Human Rights Code, the first in Canada, was enacted in 1962. The Code protects people in Ontario against discrimination in employment, accommodation, goods, services and facilities, and membership in vocational associations and trade unions.
There are fifteen grounds of discrimination under the Code: race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed (religion), sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, disability, age (18 to 65 in employment, and 16 and over in occupancy of accommodation), marital status (including same sex partners), family status, receipt of public assistance (in accommodation only) and record of offences (in employment only).
The Ontario Human Rights Commission was established in 1961 to administer the Code. The Commission is an arm's length agency of government accountable to the Legislature through the Attorney General.
The Commission's mandate under the Code includes: investigating complaints of discrimination and harassment; making efforts to settle complaints between parties; preventing discrimination through public education and public policy; and looking into situations where discriminatory behaviour exists.
Over the past few years, the Commission has implemented new measures to ensure an efficient system for managing complaints under the Code. There is now a centralized, one-window service for inquiry and intake. Specially trained staff provide inquiry and intake, mediation and investigation services.
Mediation was introduced in 1997. All individuals who file complaints are offered mediation services before a complaint is investigated. Approximately 65%-70% of complaints in which mediation was attempted were successfully settled.
There is a full-time Chief Commissioner and a varying number of part-time Commissioners, appointed by Order-in-Council. Staff of the Commission is appointed under the Public Service Act.

Our Mission

The OHRC, an independent statutory body, provides leadership for the promotion, protection and advancement of human rights, and builds partnerships across the human rights system. In pursuit of our vision, we will:

Empower people to realize their rights
Ensure those responsible for upholding human rights do so
Advocate for the full realization of human rights
Work with our independent partners at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and the Human Rights Legal Support Centre
Develop and encourage the implementation of human rights policies
Conduct research
Monitor developments, trends, problem areas and case law involving human rights issues.
Use our legal powers to pursue remedies in the public interest.
Carry out public inquiries where appropriate
Educate and build capacity
Report on the state of human rights to the people of Ontario

Our Values and Principles

We value LEADERSHIP
We are committed to:

promoting a broad purposive interpretation of the Code so as to advance the cause of human rights; and
the advancement of broader societal and human rights issues.

We value an INFORMED PUBLIC
We are committed to:

a strategic approach to public education, because we believe that an informed public contributes to the elimination of discrimination in society; and
developing partnerships to advance human rights.

We value QUALITY SERVICE
We are committed to providing the highest quality service that is:

accessible and flexible by developing the most effective way of providing service;
sensitive to the diversity of the population served;
equitable; and
respectful of the dignity of each person and their right to be free from discrimination and to be kept fully informed.

We value CONSULTATION
We are committed to:

consultation and participation of both the communities we serve and our staff in matters pertaining to the advancement of human rights.

We value EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT
We are committed to:

an effective enforcement system that is objective, fair, accessible, sensitive and timely; and
an enforcement process that offers options which meet the needs of different groups of users and parties in a complaint.

We value OUR EMPLOYEES
We are committed to a workplace which:

maintains equitable hiring and employment practices;
encourages diversity in the workforce at all levels;
does not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment in the workplace;
accommodates the special requirements of employees within the meaning of the Code;
values and supports both corporate and self learning opportunities;
expects and recognizes good performance;
provides alternative working arrangements; and
fosters positive, cooperative relationships and communication among the employees, employee representatives and the employer.

We value EFFECTIVE and EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT
We are committed to:

responsible fiscal management;
allocating resources to enable the Commission to meet all of its responsibilities under the Code; and
respecting the policies and procedures of the Ontario Public Service and the collective agreements.

Our Code of Ethics

The Commission has developed a Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct Standards

Click here to view the Code of Ethics (PDF Documents, 63k)

Our Commitment to Service

We, the staff of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, in full compliance with the spirit, intent and provisions of the Ontario Human Rights Code, are committed to providing the highest quality customer service.

This statement of our commitment reflects our best efforts to provide excellent customer service, within the limits of our resources, by:

being sensitive, aware and knowledgeable about the realities of prejudice and discrimination;
recognizing and accommodating the diverse needs of our many client groups;
providing accessible services, information and materials;
assisting our customers to identify the best way to address their concerns, including referrals to outside sources of help;
acting on issues brought to the Commission as quickly as possible while maintaining the high quality of our work;
providing, on first contact, a complete explanation of the complaint process and the roles that staff play at various stages of that process;
giving guidance and information at all stages of the complaint process without prejudice or pressure;
applying clear, fair and objective standards and procedures when assessing and investigating all alleged Code violations;
ensuring that the parties to a complaint are informed regularly about the status of their case and final outcome;
responding to questions, concerns and criticism in a prompt, fair and respectful way;
ensuring, where legally possible, that all matters brought to the Commission are handled with the highest regard for confidentiality.

If you have any comments, questions or suggestions about our Commitment to Service, the staff of the Commission would be pleased to talk to you.

Scent sensitive workplace

The Commission asks for everyone's cooperation in its efforts to accommodate the health concerns of persons who have sensitivities to various chemical-based or scented products.

When visiting the offices of the Commission, please be considerate in your use of scented products such as hairspray, perfume/cologne, deodorant, aftershave, body creams, etc. You may be asked to refrain from using such products due to health concerns.