Purposes of the Code
(a) to foster a society in British Columbia in which there are no impediments to full and free participation in the economic, social, political and cultural life of British Columbia;
(b) to promote a climate of understanding and mutual respect where all are equal in dignity and rights;
(c) to prevent discrimination prohibited by this Code;
(d) to identify and eliminate persistent patterns of inequality associated with discrimination prohibited by this Code;
(e) to provide a means of redress for those persons who are discriminated against contrary to this Code.
Personal Characteristics/Grounds of Discrimination
According to the BC Human Rights Code, you are protected from being discriminated against on the grounds of any of these characteristics:
- race
- colour
- ancestry
- place of origin
- religion
- marital status
- family status (ie. having children)
- physical or mental disability (mental health problems are included)
- sex (includes being a man or a woman, breastfeeding, sexual harassment)
- sexual orientation (being LBGTQ+)
- gender identity or expression (identifying as /transgender/intersex)
- age (applies only to those older than 19 years old)
- criminal conviction (applies only to employment)
- political belief (applies only to employment)
- lawful source of income (applies only to tenancy – includes income assistance, pension, rent subsidies)
Areas of Daily Life
People in BC cannot discriminate against others due to the personal characteristics noted above, in the following areas of daily life:
Accommodation, Service, Facility
A person must not, without a bona fide and reasonable justification,
(a) deny to a person or class of persons any accommodation, service or facility customarily available to the public, or
(b) discriminate against a person or class of persons regarding any accommodation, service or facility customarily available to the public
Tenancy Premises
A person must not
(a) deny to a person or class of persons the right to occupy, as a tenant, space that is represented as being available for occupancy by a tenant, or
(b) discriminate against a person or class of persons regarding a term or condition of the tenancy of the space,
Employment
A person must not
(a) refuse to employ or refuse to continue to employ a person, or
(b) discriminate against a person regarding employment or any term or condition of employment
Employment Advertisements
A person must not publish or cause to be published an advertisement in connection with employment or prospective employment that expresses a limitation, specification or preference
Wages
An employer must not discriminate between employees by employing an employee of one sex for work at a rate of pay that is less than the rate of pay at which an employee of the other sex is employed by that employer for similar or substantially similar work.
Unions and Associations
A trade union, employers’ organization or occupational association must not
(a) exclude any person from membership,
(b) expel or suspend any member, or
(c) discriminate against any person or member
Purchase of Property
A person must not
(a) deny to a person or class of persons the opportunity to purchase a commercial unit or dwelling unit that is in any way represented as being available for sale,
(b) deny to a person or class of persons the opportunity to acquire land or an interest in land, or
(c) discriminate against a person or class of persons regarding a term or condition of the purchase or other acquisition of a commercial unit, dwelling unit, land or interest in land
Publications
A person must not publish, issue or display, or cause to be published, issued or displayed, any statement, publication, notice, sign, symbol, emblem or other representation that
(a) indicates discrimination or an intention to discriminate against a person or a group or class of persons, or
(b) is likely to expose a person or a group or class of persons to hatred or contempt