Subscribe to our newsletters
Human Rights Lawyer · Toronto
Human Rights Lawyer Toronto
If you have experienced discrimination or harassment in your Toronto workplace, you have rights under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Get legal advice from an experienced Toronto human rights lawyer before taking any steps.
Workplace discrimination in Toronto can take many forms — discrimination based on race, gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or family status. Whether you have been passed over for promotion, subjected to harassment, or terminated because of a protected characteristic, the Ontario Human Rights Code protects you.
Achkar Law’s Toronto human rights lawyers help employees understand their rights, assess their options, and pursue human rights complaints and claims against employers who have violated their obligations under Ontario law.
Call toll-free 1-800-771-7882
Serving employees in Toronto, North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Mississauga, and throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
Recognized by
Human Rights Lawyer · Toronto
Human Rights and Discrimination Lawyer in Toronto
The Ontario Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination and harassment in the workplace based on protected grounds including race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, family status, and disability. Toronto employees who experience workplace discrimination or harassment connected to any of these grounds have the right to file a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.
Discrimination in Toronto workplaces takes many forms. It may be overt, such as a termination explicitly connected to a protected characteristic, or it may be subtle, such as being passed over for promotion, subjected to different treatment, or excluded from opportunities because of your race, gender, age, disability, or another protected ground. Both direct and systemic discrimination are prohibited under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Achkar Law's Toronto human rights lawyers help employees understand their rights under the Code, assess whether their situation constitutes a human rights violation, and pursue HRTO applications and other available remedies against Toronto employers who have discriminated against or harassed their employees.
Speak With a Toronto Human Rights Lawyer If You Have Experienced:
- Workplace discrimination based on race, gender, or age in Toronto
- Discrimination connected to a disability or medical condition
- Sexual harassment or gender-based discrimination
- Termination connected to a protected characteristic
- Failure to accommodate a disability or religious need
- Harassment based on race, ethnicity, or national origin
- Age discrimination in hiring, promotion, or termination
- Retaliation after raising a human rights concern
Protected Grounds Under the Ontario Human Rights Code
Common Forms of Workplace Discrimination Our Toronto Lawyers Handle
The Ontario Human Rights Code protects Toronto employees from discrimination and harassment based on a wide range of protected grounds. These are the most common types of discrimination cases our Toronto human rights lawyers handle.
Race and Ethnic Discrimination
Discrimination based on race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, or ethnic origin is prohibited under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Toronto is one of the most diverse cities in the world and race-based workplace discrimination, while sometimes subtle, remains a serious and actionable human rights issue. Toronto employees who experience differential treatment, harassment, or termination connected to their race or ethnicity have the right to file an HRTO application.
Gender and Sex Discrimination
Discrimination based on sex, gender identity, or gender expression is prohibited in Toronto workplaces. This includes differential pay, promotion decisions, or treatment based on gender, pregnancy-related discrimination, and discrimination against transgender or non-binary employees. Sexual harassment is also prohibited under both the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Disability Discrimination and Accommodation
Toronto employers have a duty to accommodate employees with disabilities to the point of undue hardship. Failure to provide reasonable accommodation, terminating an employee because of a disability or medical condition, or treating an employee differently because of a physical or mental health condition constitutes discrimination under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Disability discrimination is one of the most common grounds for HRTO applications in Toronto.
Age Discrimination in Toronto
The Ontario Human Rights Code protects Toronto employees aged 18 and over from age-based discrimination in employment. Age discrimination often arises in the context of layoffs, where older employees are disproportionately targeted, or in hiring and promotion decisions where age is a factor. A Toronto discrimination lawyer can assess whether your termination or treatment may have been influenced by your age.
Religious Discrimination and Accommodation
Toronto employers are required to accommodate an employee's religious beliefs and practices to the point of undue hardship. Failing to provide time off for religious observance, imposing dress code requirements that conflict with religious practice without accommodation, or treating an employee differently because of their religion or creed constitutes discrimination under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Family Status Discrimination
Discrimination based on family status, including discrimination against employees because of their parenting or caregiving responsibilities, is prohibited under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Employers are required to accommodate family status obligations to the point of undue hardship. Toronto employees who are treated differently, denied accommodation, or terminated because of childcare or other family obligations have the right to file a human rights complaint.
The HRTO Process for Toronto Employees
How Does the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario Process Work?
The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario is the body responsible for adjudicating human rights applications in Ontario. Toronto employees who believe they have experienced workplace discrimination have one year from the last incident to file an application with the HRTO. Understanding the process before you file is important to protecting your rights and maximising the strength of your application.
01
Filing the Application
An HRTO application sets out the facts of the discrimination, the protected ground engaged, and the remedies being sought. The application must be filed within one year of the last act of discrimination. How the application is framed significantly affects the strength of the case, making legal advice before filing essential.
02
Mediation
The HRTO offers mediation as an early resolution option before a formal hearing. Many Toronto human rights applications are resolved through mediation, which can result in monetary compensation, policy changes, and other remedies. A Toronto human rights lawyer can advise on whether mediation is appropriate for your situation and represent you through the process.
03
Summary Hearing and Full Hearing
Where mediation does not resolve the application, the matter may proceed to a summary hearing or a full merits hearing before an HRTO adjudicator. The hearing is a formal proceeding where both parties present evidence and submissions. Toronto human rights lawyers who regularly appear before the HRTO understand the tribunal's procedures and approach.
04
Remedies Available
The HRTO can order a wide range of remedies including monetary compensation for lost wages, compensation for injury to dignity, feelings, and self-respect, orders requiring the employer to change its policies or practices, and reinstatement. HRTO awards for injury to dignity in serious cases can be substantial.
05
One-Year Limitation Period
Toronto employees have one year from the last act of discrimination to file an HRTO application. This is a strict deadline. Missing it can permanently eliminate your ability to pursue your human rights claim through the HRTO, regardless of how strong your case is. Acting promptly and getting legal advice as soon as possible is essential.
Toronto Human Rights Lawyer: Get Advice Before the One-Year Deadline
The one-year limitation period for HRTO applications is one of the most critical deadlines in employment law. Toronto employees who delay getting legal advice after experiencing workplace discrimination frequently discover that their deadline has passed or is imminent, leaving them with limited options.
In addition to the HRTO process, some human rights situations also support additional claims including constructive dismissal where the discrimination has made continued employment untenable, wrongful dismissal where the termination was connected to a protected characteristic, and civil claims for damages in appropriate cases.
Achkar Law's Toronto human rights and discrimination lawyers assess every available avenue and advise on the approach that best serves your interests given your specific circumstances and the strength of your case.
Speak With a Toronto Human Rights Lawyer
How Our Toronto Human Rights Lawyers Help
What a Toronto Human Rights and Discrimination Lawyer Does for You
Achkar Law's Toronto human rights lawyers assist employees from the initial assessment of their situation through to resolution before the HRTO or through negotiated settlement.
1
Assess Whether Your Situation Constitutes Discrimination
We conduct a thorough assessment of your situation, identifying whether the conduct you experienced is connected to a protected ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code, whether it meets the threshold for a human rights violation, and what evidence supports your case. You receive a clear and honest picture of the strength of your claim before any decisions are made.
2
Advise on All Available Legal Avenues
We assess every legal avenue available to you, including an HRTO application, a constructive dismissal claim, a wrongful dismissal claim where your termination was connected to a protected ground, and civil claims in appropriate cases. We advise on the approach that provides the strongest remedy for your specific situation. See our Ontario human rights lawyer page for more on all available options.
3
Draft and File Your HRTO Application
We draft a well-framed HRTO application that clearly identifies the protected ground engaged, the discriminatory conduct, the connection between the two, and the remedies being sought. A properly drafted application sets the framework for the entire proceeding and significantly affects the strength of your case before the HRTO adjudicator.
4
Represent You in Mediation and Hearings
We represent you in all stages of the HRTO process, including mediation, case assessment conferences, summary hearings, and full merits hearings. Achkar Law's Toronto human rights lawyers are experienced advocates before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario and understand how to present human rights cases effectively.
5
Pursue Related Employment Claims
Human rights violations often connect to other employment law claims. Where your termination was connected to discrimination, we assess your full wrongful dismissal entitlements. Where the discrimination has made your workplace intolerable, we assess whether you have a constructive dismissal claim. We ensure every available avenue is pursued to maximise your total recovery.
Experienced Workplace Discrimination in Toronto? Get Legal Advice Before Your Deadline Passes.
Achkar Law's human rights and discrimination lawyers serve employees across Toronto and the GTA.
A Toronto human rights lawyer advises employees on their rights under the Ontario Human Rights Code, assesses whether their workplace situation constitutes discrimination or harassment based on a protected ground, and represents them in HRTO applications, mediation, and hearings. A Toronto discrimination lawyer also advises on related employment law claims including constructive dismissal and wrongful dismissal where the discrimination is connected to an employment action.
Achkar Law's Toronto human rights lawyers serve employees across the city and GTA, providing clear advice on every available avenue and experienced representation before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.
Toronto employees have one year from the last act of discrimination or harassment to file an application with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. This is a strict limitation period. Missing it can permanently eliminate your ability to pursue your human rights claim through the HRTO, regardless of how strong your case is.
If you believe you have experienced workplace discrimination in Toronto, speaking with a human rights lawyer as soon as possible is the most important step you can take to protect your rights and ensure your claim is filed within the required timeframe.
Workplace discrimination under the Ontario Human Rights Code occurs when an employee is treated differently or adversely because of a protected characteristic such as race, gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or family status. Discrimination does not need to be intentional to be actionable. It includes both direct discrimination and systemic discrimination where seemingly neutral policies have an adverse impact on employees with protected characteristics.
Toronto employees who believe they have been discriminated against in hiring, promotion, compensation, working conditions, or termination based on a protected ground have the right to file an HRTO application seeking compensation and other remedies.
Yes, in many cases. Where a termination in Toronto is connected to a protected characteristic under the Ontario Human Rights Code, the employee may have both a wrongful dismissal claim for common law reasonable notice and an HRTO application for human rights damages including compensation for injury to dignity. The two claims address different aspects of the harm suffered and are not mutually exclusive.
A Toronto human rights and wrongful dismissal lawyer can assess your situation and advise on the best combination of claims to pursue to maximise your total compensation. See our Toronto wrongful dismissal lawyer page for more on wrongful dismissal entitlements.
The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario can award a range of remedies including monetary compensation for lost wages and benefits resulting from the discrimination, compensation for injury to dignity, feelings, and self-respect, orders requiring the employer to change its policies or practices, orders for reinstatement, and public interest remedies. Awards for injury to dignity in serious cases can be substantial.
The amount of compensation available depends on the severity of the discrimination, the impact on the employee, and the circumstances of the case. A Toronto human rights lawyer can assess the likely range of remedies available in your specific situation.
Age discrimination in Toronto workplaces occurs when an employee aged 18 or over is treated adversely because of their age. Common forms of age discrimination include targeting older employees disproportionately in layoffs, denying older employees training or promotion opportunities available to younger colleagues, making comments about retirement, and terminating long-service employees based on assumptions about their future contribution.
Age discrimination in termination situations can support both an HRTO application and an enhanced wrongful dismissal claim, as courts in Ontario recognize that older employees often face a longer search for comparable employment in the Toronto market after termination. A Toronto discrimination lawyer can assess whether age may have been a factor in your situation.
Speak With a Toronto Human Rights Lawyer
Call Us or Fill Out the Form and We Will Respond Promptly
If you have experienced workplace discrimination or harassment in Toronto, Achkar Law is here to help. Our Toronto human rights lawyers give you clear advice on your rights and options before your deadline passes.
Serving employees across Toronto and the GTA. Toronto office at 4789 Yonge St, Suite 908. Virtual consultations available.
Call: 1-800-771-7882Tell Us About Your Situation
Note: Phone calls, consultations, forms, and emails sent to us do not create a lawyer-client relationship and do not constitute legal advice.