The discrimination occurs as a result of being singled out or treated unfavourably or unequally in your work, in obtaining services or goods, in housing and other specific areas, related to at least one of the protected characteristic outlined in the human rights law such as:
- ancestry
- race, colour
- place of origin
- physical or mental disability
- religion
- ethnic background
- gender or sex
- age
- sexual orientation
- marital status
- family status
Depending on the province or territory it can also include criminal record/criminal charges, source of income, political beliefs or association There are some differences between provinces in the personal characteristics that are protected. Check the human rights law in your province or territory.
Discrimination can take the form of harassment, unequal pay for the same or substantially similar work, discriminatory publications or hate propaganda, or simply, differential treatment.