Human Rights Legal Support Centre

06/04/2026

Facing discrimination in Ontario and need help with next steps? The HRLSC is excited to announce two new resources to support access to justice!

First is a new free online tool that helps guide people step-by-step through the process of filing a human rights complaint (Form 1 application) with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO).
The Human Rights Guided Pathway, developed in partnership with Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO), and supported by our responsive grant from the Law Foundation of Ontario (LFO), asks simple questions in plain language and uses guided prompts to help you complete the HRTO’s Form 1. Click here to learn more and get started: https://hrlsc.on.ca/guided-pathways/

If you have faced discrimination but are not ready to take legal action just yet, you can learn more about defending your rights through our new “Guide to Asserting Your Rights.” It includes sample and template letters you can use to support early resolution in situations where you may want to try resolving the issue directly with an employer, landlord, or service provider. Check out the guide here: https://hrlsc.on.ca/how-to-guides/asserting-your-human-rights/

These new resources are part of the HRLSC’s increased focus on supporting access to justice in Ontario, particularly for marginalized communities and people facing barriers to accessing legal support. Learn more about the HRLSC’s free legal support services for people who have experienced discrimination under the Human Rights Code at www.hrlsc.on.ca

05/11/2026

Do you have human rights expertise and a passion for fighting discrimination? Are you able to litigate in French and English before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO)? If this sounds like you—or someone you know— check out our new job posting for a full-time permanent Bilingual Legal Counsel.

Read more here:
https://hrlsc.on.ca/about-us/careers/

Be sure to apply before June 1 at 9:00 am!

05/05/2026

Harassment and discrimination based on Indigenous ancestry or race, and/or other intersecting grounds such as s*x, s*xual orientation, gender identity, or expression, are prohibited under the Ontario Human Rights Code. If you’re experiencing discrimination or harassment on any such grounds at work, in housing, or when accessing services—including policing—you may be facing Code-based discrimination.

The Indigenous Services and Outreach Committee at the Human Rights Legal Support Centre offers Indigenous-led legal advice and support. Call 416-597-4900 or 1-866-625-5179 (toll-free), then press 4.

https://hrlsc.on.ca/indigenous-services/

Today we recognize Red Dress Day, which honours and brings awareness to the Indigenous women and girls who have been subject to disproportionate violence in Canada. Inspired by the work of Métis artist Jaime Black, creator of the REDress Project, empty red dresses are hung in public spaces as a stark reminder of those who have been lost or worn to show support.

Learn more: https://www.csps-efpc.gc.ca/video/red-dress-2025-eng.aspx

04/02/2026

The HRLSC has successfully completed its planned technology upgrades, and our systems are now back online!

WHAT’S NEW:
• The HRLSC’s client portal site can now be accessed at a new link: ctt.cp.hrlsc.on.ca Please be sure to update your website links.
• HRLSC Staff have transitioned to a new email format and clients may receive emails from staff addresses that look a little different. However, please note, emails sent to previous staff email addresses will still be received, and non-staff emails such as [email protected] remain the same.

03/31/2026

Trans people continue to face barriers in employment, services, housing, and other everyday interactions. International Trans Day of Visibility is a reminder of the importance of protecting the rights to dignity, safety, and equal treatment.

When businesses refuse service because of a person’s gender identify or gender expression, that can be discrimination under Ontario’s Human Rights Code.

In the HRLSC’s case of A.B. v. Mad Wax Windsor, the HRTO concluded that Code-related discrimination and harassment had occurred after a trans woman was demeaned, denied routine leg wax and then later harassed through a press release issued by the waxing salon owner.

➡️Read more about this case here: https://hrlsc.on.ca/waxing-services/

If you’ve experienced discrimination based on gender identity or expression, we can help: hrlsc.on.ca

03/31/2026

Indigenous languages carry teachings, laws, identity, and connection to land — but many have been critically endangered due to colonial policies in Canada which punished generations of Indigenous children and their families for speaking their languages.

The day now aligns with the UN International Decade of Indigenous Languages (2022–2032), recognizing that more than half of the world’s Indigenous languages could disappear by the end of this century.

Across Canada, more than 70 Indigenous languages are spoken, each representing entire systems of knowledge and meaning.
While language isn’t specifically mentioned in Ontario’s Human Rights Code, language has been recognized as a key characteristic of protected grounds like place of origin, ethnic origin and ancestry.

If you identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis and have experienced discrimination linked to identity, culture, or language, we can help. With our Indigenous services phone line, you can speak with an Indigenous staff member for culturally informed support and human rights advice:
➡️ https://www.hrlsc.on.ca/services-indigenous-peoples

As part of our work to support access to Ontario’s human rights system the HRLSC offers its services in 140 languages including Cree, Oji-Cree, Mohawk, and Ojibway.

03/26/2026

Reminder: The HRLSC is closed Friday, March 27th while it completes planned technology upgrades to improve the reliability, security, and accessibility of our services.

This means the Client Portal is unavailable from Thursday, March 26 at 5 PM until Monday, March 30 at 8 AM, when it will be accessed by a new link.

Additionally, emails sent to staff during this time may not be received or responded to until after the update is complete.

For more information, see our FAQ here: https://hrlsc.on.ca/faq/hrlsc-temporary-service-and-communications-outage-march-26-30-2026/