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 2015.
By law, the Commission must consider every written 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 refers the case to the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal for a hearing.
2015
Complaints filed with the CHRC
1 A received complaint, also known as a potential complaint, is a contact that falls within the mandate of the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC), and that may lead to an accepted complaint after analysis and review.
2 An accepted complaint is a document, in a form acceptable to the CHRC, 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.
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.
4 The CHRC can decide not to deal with complaints that do not meet the criteria listed under subsections 41(1) (c,d,e) of the Canadian Human Rights Act (e.g. the complaint fell outside of the CHRC’s jurisdiction or the complaint was frivolous, vexatious or made in bad faith.)
Employment equity audits
In 2015, the Canadian Human Rights Commission conducted compliance reviews with a focus on ensuring progress towards equality in the workplace:
- The Commission produced audit reports for 41 federally regulated employers. These reports acknowledged the actions these employers have taken to fulfill their employment equity obligations.
- The Commission issued 48 status reports for employers that achieved good employment equity results in their industry sectors. The status reports also flag outstanding challenges facing these employers.
- The Commission negotiated agreements with 43 employers that were not in compliance with the Employment Equity Act. Each agreement outlined actions that the employer would take to improve their employment equity performance.
Figure 1
Complaints received by province or territory (2015)
Figure 21
Complaints received by province or territory
Province or territory
2013
2014
2015
Newfoundland and Labrador
10
1%
16
1%
9
1%
Prince Edward Island
6
1%
6
1%
0
0%
Nova Scotia
52
4%
44
3%
36
3%
New Brunswick
42
3%
34
2%
38
3%
Quebec
146
12%
147
11%
160
13%
Ontario
565
46%
653
48%
583
48%
Manitoba
63
5%
60
4%
52
4%
Saskatchewan
58
5%
28
2%
28
2%
Alberta
134
11%
161
12%
126
10%
British Columbia
149
12%
199
15%
167
14%
Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Outside of Canada
11
1%
16
1%
8
1%
Total
1,236
100%
1,364
100%
1,207
100%
The percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
Figure 32
Complaints received by types of respondents
2013
2014
2015
Private Sector
496
40%
585
43%
492
41%
Federal Government*
602
49%
616
45%
588
49%
Reserves, Bands and Councils
93
8%
91
7%
81
7%
Unions
25
2%
44
3%
24
2%
Individuals
20
2%
28
2%
22
2%
Total
1,236
100%
1,364
100%
1,207
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 types of allegation cited
2013
2014
2015
Employment-related (sections 7,8,10,11)
1,228
71%
1,347
70%
1,145
65%
Services-related (sections 5,6)
321
19%
376
19%
391
22%
Harassment - employment (section 14)
118
7%
138
7%
155
9%
Union membership (section 9)
22
1%
41
2%
20
1%
Retaliation (section 14.1)
22
1%
23
1%
25
1%
Harassment - services (section 14)
17
1%
12
1%
23
1%
Notices, signs, symbols (section 12)
7
1%
0
0%
0
0%
Total
1,735
100%
1,937
100%
1,759
100%
The percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
Total number of allegations cited exceeds the total number of received complaints because some complaints dealt with more than one allegation.
Figure 54
Complaints accepted by province or territory
Province or territory
2013
2014
2015
Newfoundland and Labrador
-
-%
-
-%
-
-%
Prince Edward Island
-
-%
-
-%
-
-%
Nova Scotia
18
3%
18
3%
15
2%
New Brunswick
23
3%
16
2%
15
2%
Quebec
70
11%
86
12%
75
12%
Ontario
312
47%
343
48%
305
48%
Manitoba
25
4%
29
4%
31
5%
Saskatchewan
30
5%
13
2%
13
2%
Alberta
67
10%
77
11%
64
10%
British Columbia
99
15%
116
16%
103
16%
Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Outside of Canada
10
2%
11
2%
4
1%
Total
661
100%
720
100%
630
100%
The percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
-- Indicates that the data has been withheld to protect confidentiality.
Figure 65
Complaints accepted by types of respondents
2013
2014
2015
Private Sector
343
52%
407
57%
341
54%
Federal Government*
239
36%
216
30%
206
33%
Reserves, Bands and Councils
50
8%
53
7%
57
9%
Unions
20
3%
35
5%
17
3%
Individuals
9
1%
9
1%
9
1%
Total
661
100%
720
100%
630
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 76
Complaints accepted by types of allegation cited
2013
2014
2015
Employment-related (sections 7,8,10,11)
749
69%
812
68%
692
64%
Services-related (sections 5,6)
214
20%
210
18%
250
23%
Harassment - employment (section 14)
71
7%
109
9%
99
9%
Union membership (section 9)
18
2%
34
3%
15
1%
Retaliation (section 14.1)
14
1%
25
2%
19
2%
Harassment - services (section 14)
11
1%
4
1%
14
1%
Notices, signs, symbols (section 12)
6
1%
0
0%
0
0%
Total
1,083
100%
1,194
100%
1,089
100%
The percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.
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
2013
2014
2015
Section 40/41 Analysis*
344
283
260
Dismissed
196
217
155
Settled**
234
293
226
Referred to Tribunal
72
70
46
Total
846
863
687
* Under section 40/41 of the Canadian Human Rights Act, the CHRC 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 CHRC.
Figure 98
Proportion of complaints received in 2015 by ground of discrimination
NOTE: In this graph, the total exceeds 100% because some complaints cite more than one ground.