BC Human Rights Tribunal Revises Dismissal Application Process Amid Ongoing Backlog Concerns

The Chair of the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal (the “Tribunal”) has announced changes to the Tribunal’s dismissal application process under section 27(1) of the Human Rights Code, effective May 1, 2026. The changes mark the next phase in the Tribunal’s ongoing efforts to address mounting delays, growing caseloads, and resource pressures. The announcement follows a multi-year review of the Tribunal’s “Case Path Pilot,” first introduced in May 2022. The pilot fundamentally altered how dismissal applications were handled, moving away from the Tribunal’s former approach where respondents could automatically file dismissal applications within a prescribed timeline after disclosure.

What is Section 27(1) of the Human Rights Code?