Your Rights

There are many Canadian laws that protect your rights. Laws about human rights are one example.

Canada’s human rights laws protect you against unfair discrimination when you:

• use public services,
• buy or rent a home,
• look for a job, or
• deal with any government agency.

Discrimination is against the law in Canada. To discriminate against someone means to treat him or her differently from other people in a way that is unfair. The law says that no one can discriminate against you because of your:

• gender,
• age,
• race or birthplace,
• your religion,
• sexual orientation (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual or straight),
• your marriage or family status (single, married, or living common-law), or
• mental or physical disability.

For example: It is against the law to discriminate against women. Women in Canada are equal to men. They are equal partners in the family, in business, in law, and in government.

Racial discrimination is illegal in Canada. It is against the law for anyone to discriminate against you because of the colour of your skin, or the country you or your ancestors came from.

A legal relationship between two persons, whether of the same or opposite genders, that is solemnized by a marriage commissioner or licenced religious official and gives rise to certain mutual rights, benefits, and obligations. See also "conjugal rights," "consortium," and "marriage, validity of."

In law, a legal incapacity to do certain things, like enter into a contract or start a court proceeding. Legal disabilities include insanity and being under the age of majority. See "age of majority."