Human rights legislation protects a wide range of individuals in
Canada. It prohibits harassment and discrimination in employment on
obvious grounds such as age, ethnic origin, gender and disability.
It also prohibits harassment and discrimination in many provinces
on less obvious grounds, such as record of offences and sexual
orientation. And that less obvious list appears to be growing,
with the introduction of gender identity and gender expression to
the list of prohibited grounds in Ontario.
Bill 33
Bill 33 (PDF), known as Toby's
Act or the Right to be Free from Discrimination and
Harassment Because of Gender Identity or Gender Expression,
2012, provides that every person has the right to equal
treatment without discrimination because of gender identity or
gender expression in the provision of services, goods and
facilities, accommodation, contracting, employment and membership
in a trade union. It was passed into law on June 19, 2012.
