Human rights and duties

Human rights in services, facilities, accommodations


Last updated: December 4, 2023

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Overview

Everyone has the right to be free from discrimination based on protected characteristics when seeking access to or when using a public service, facility or accommodation.

Examples of public services: Hotels, stores, restaurants, schools, government programs, community recreation programs, and services provided by stratas.

Services discrimination refers to poor treatment regarding a service, based on a personal characteristic.

If the poor treatment is justified, then there is no discrimination.

These are the personal characteristics protected in services:

Service-providers and others have a duty not to discriminate regarding services. This includes a duty to take all reasonable steps to avoid a negative effect based on a personal characteristic. This is called the duty to accommodate.

What poor treatment is discrimination regarding services

A complaint must set out facts that, if proved, could be discrimination under the Human Rights Code against each person named as a respondent.

This means that a complaint must include information showing:

  1. The complainant has a personal characteristic (or is perceived to have a characteristic) protected under the Code.
  2. The respondent’s conduct had a negative effect on the complainant regarding a service.
  3. The ground of discrimination is a factor in the negative effect.

Personal characteristics that are protected from discrimination in services

To have a complaint regarding services, the complainant must have a personal characteristic protected under the Human Rights Code or be seen to have one.

Example: the complainant has a disability or the respondent thinks that the complainant has a disability.

The personal characteristics protected in services, facilities, and accommodations are:

Negative effect regarding a service

To make a complaint regarding a service, the respondent’s conduct must have a negative effect on the complainant’s access to or use of the service, facility or accommodation.

Example: Refusing to serve someone or removing someone from a program.

The Code prohibits harassment based on a personal characteristic that negatively affects the complainant’s access to or use of the service, facility or accommodation.

A negative effect can arise where a person is treated the same as others, but this has a negative effect on them.

Example: A child with a disability does not receive meaningful access to educational services.

There is a duty to accommodate to avoid a negative effect based on a personal characteristic.

For there to be discrimination in this kind of situation, the respondent must reasonably be aware that the complainant needs accommodation.

Example: The complainant told the respondent that they need accommodation or it is clear that the complainant needs accommodation.

Connection between negative effect and personal characteristic

Poor treatment is discrimination only if it is connected to a personal characteristic. This means that a personal characteristic must be at least a factor in the negative effect. It does not need to be the only factor or the most important factor. A complainant does not need to show that the respondent meant to discriminate or was motivated by discrimination.

A person may believe that a personal characteristic was a factor, but a complaint must set out facts supporting the belief. Examples:

The respondent identifies the personal characteristic.

Example: A service provider uses insults based on a personal characteristic, or gives the characteristic as a reason for the poor treatment.

The respondent’s actions affect the complainant because of a personal characteristic.

Example: A person who uses a wheelchair due to a disability cannot access a service because the only access is by stairs.

Note: This is enough to file a complaint. However, if the respondent justifies its action by showing it acted in good faith and took all reasonable and practical steps to avoid the negative effect, then there is no discrimination.

The circumstances show the personal characteristic is a factor. (The facts support a “reasonable inference”.)

Example: An inn-keeper denies someone accommodation after learning they are gay.

A recreation program places conditions on someone’s participation that are not placed on others who do not share the same characteristic.

NOTE: This is enough to file a complaint. However, the respondent may have an explanation. At a hearing, you must prove the personal characteristic was a factor in the negative effect.

Who can be named as a respondent in a services complaint

  • The service provider. The service provider is responsible for the service and is usually the respondent in a services complaint. For example, a School District is the respondent in a complaint about discrimination in a school.
  • A person who is responsible for the discrimination. For example, a complaint may name a person who made the decision to deny the complainant a service based on a personal characteristic, or who influenced a decision. A complaint would not name a person who applied a discriminatory policy as part of their job, or who delivered a letter denying the service.

How can poor treatment in services be justified (defences)

There is one main defence to discrimination in services, where the respondent proves their conduct was justified. There are also some specific defences. There is also an exemption for non-profit organizations.

Learn more:

Justification defence: bona fide and reasonable justification

If a complainant proves that the respondent’s conduct had a negative effect on them regarding services, and that a personal characteristic was a factor in the negative effect, this is called a prima facie case of discrimination.

Even if a complainant proves a prima facie case, a respondent may argue that there is no discrimination because their conduct was justified (i.e, based on a bona fide and reasonable justification or BFRJ). To succeed with this argument, a respondent must prove three things:

1. There is a legitimate business-related purpose for the respondent’s conduct

The respondent must identify the (non-discriminatory) purpose underlying its standard or conduct. In some cases, a respondent applies a defined standard or requirement that affects the complainant, such as passing a test to get a service. For example, the purpose of a test might be to ensure reasonable safety. In other cases, there is no defined standard.

For example, access to a respondent’s place of business is by stairs, and the complainant uses a wheelchair due to a disability. Stair-only access may be based on construction before building codes required accessibility.

The respondent must also show how the purpose relates to the service or facility it provides.

For example, a public agency’s goal of reasonable highway safety relates to its function of deciding who may have a driver’s license. In many cases, the complainant may not dispute that the respondent’s conduct is based on a legitimate, business-related purpose.

2. The respondent adopted the standard or acted in good faith, believing the standard or conduct is necessary to achieving its purpose

This means that the respondent adopted the standard or acted to accomplish its purpose, and did not mean to discriminate. In many cases, the complainant may not dispute that the respondent acted in good faith with no intent to discriminate.

3. The respondent’s standard or conduct is reasonably necessary to its service-related purpose, such that the respondent could not accommodate the complainant (or others sharing their characteristics) without undue hardship

This means that the respondent fulfilled its duty to accommodate. To do so, the respondent must prove that it took all reasonable and practical steps to avoid the negative effect. This includes proving:

  • What the respondent did to explore options to find a reasonable result
  • Why further steps were not reasonable or practical (would result in undue hardship)
  • The respondent’s basis for concluding that it could not accommodate the complainant without giving up the legitimate service-related purpose or incurring undue hardship

Proof that a respondent reasonably accommodated a complainant’s disability may also require the respondent to show that it took any necessary steps to inform itself of the nature of the complainant’s medical condition, prognosis, and capabilities (including limitations or restrictions) for work.

It is not enough to point to some hardship and say no more could be done. A respondent must prove undue hardship by giving evidence about the effect that the accommodation would have on the respondent.

For example, if a respondent relies on excessive cost, it must prove both the costs of the requested accommodation, and how this cost would result in undue hardship to it given its financial situation. It is not enough to rely on the high cost of accommodation without showing the respondent cannot reasonably afford it.

Factors a respondent may rely on to establish undue hardship include financial cost and the size of the respondent’s operation.

A complainant must participate in the search for accommodation. The respondent may establish a justification defence (BFRJ) if it proves that it was taking all reasonable and practical steps but the process failed because the complainant did not reasonably participate or rejected a reasonable offer of accommodation.

Public decency defence

It is a defence to a case of sex discrimination if the discrimination relates to the maintenance of “public decency”.

Defence regarding life or health insurance contracts

It is not discrimination if premiums or benefits in health or life insurance contracts are determined based on sex, physical or mental disability, or age.

The Code recognizes that insurance providers rely on statistical data in writing their contracts. For example, they may take into account the different life expectancies of men and women without contravening the Code.

Age distinction in legislation

It is a defence to a case of discrimination on the basis of age if the distinction based on age is permitted or required by any legislation (Act or regulation).