Am I in the Right Place?

Before filing a complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, please ask yourself the following questions:
1. Did you experience discrimination or harassment based on one of the following protected characteristics?
  • Disability
  • Age (18 or more)
  • Religion or religious creed
  • Family status
  • Marital status
  • Sex
  • Sexual orientation
  • Race or perceived race
  • Nationality
  • Place of origin
  • Ancestry
  • Colour
  • Receipt of public assistance
  • Gender identity

If you have been treated negatively, but it is not connected to one of these protected characteristics, the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission cannot accept your complaint.

2. Did the incident occur in one of the following “public” areas?
  • Employment
  • Education
  • Housing
  • A place where you receive goods or services, or use facilities (schools, stores, restaurants, hospitals, etc.)
  • Contracts
  • Professional trade associations
  • Purchase of property
  • Occupations
  • Trade Unions
  • Publications

It is important note that private relationships DO NOT fall under the protection of the Code. In order for your complaint to fall under the Code, you must answer yes to both of the questions above. A human rights complaint must include one of the characteristics protected by the Code AND must occur in one of the designated “public” areas.

If you answered YES to both questions, you may have reasonable grounds for filing a human rights complaint.

Before you attempt to file a complaint, however, please review the information below:
  • Did the incident occur within the last 12 months?
    A complaint must be made to the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission within one year after the alleged incident of discrimination. In exceptional cases, the Commission may accept a complaint after the one-year period if, in the Chief Commissioner’s opinion, it is appropriate in the circumstances to do so.
  • Did the circumstances occur within Saskatchewan?
    The incident must have occurred within the province of Saskatchewan in order for the Commission to consider your complaint. If the circumstances occurred in another province, you should contact the Human Rights Commission for that province.
  • Does your complaint involve the federal government or a federally regulated industry?
    If your complaint about being discriminated against happened during employment as a federal employee or while receiving services from a federal public office or a federally regulated private company such as a:
    • Federal Crown corporation
    • Bank
    • Airport or airline
    • Ship or navigation
    • TV or radio station
    • Phone or Internet provider
    • Transportation company (ferry, train, truck, or bus)
    • RCMP

    Your complaint is within the jurisdiction of the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

  • Have you been terminated from your job?
    If you believe your firing can be linked to one of the protected characteristics listed above, you may have a human rights complaint.If, however, your termination of employment is NOT linked to one of the protected characteristics, it does not fall under the Code. In this case, you may seek assistance from Employment Standards, your union, or a lawyer.
  • Does your complaint involve harassment at work?
    If the harassment is linked to a prohibited ground, you may have a human rights complaint.If the harassment cannot be linked to a prohibited ground, contact Occupational Health and Safety regarding general harassment at work.If you are a union member, please seek assistance from your union.
  • Does your complaint involve police conduct?
    Most complaints about police conduct should be sent to the Public Complaints Commission. However, if the incident can be linked to a protected characteristic, you may also have grounds for a human rights complaint.If the complaint is about the RCMP, that is a federal matter and you should contact the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
  • Is your complaint about the Government of Saskatchewan or a municipal government within the province?
    If the alleged mistreatment can be linked to one of the protected characteristics listed above, you may have a human rights complaint.If it cannot be linked to a prohibited ground, you may be able to file a complaint with Ombudsman Saskatchewan.Inmates who have a complaint about general mistreatment or breach of rights (food quality, right to a lawyer, etc.) that are NOT linked to a protected characteristic should also contact Ombudsman Saskatchewan.

Having reviewed all of the information above, if you still wish to file a complaint with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, please proceed to: Filing a Complaint

If you have human rights questions or concerns pertaining to COVID-19, please visit our COVID-19 and Human Rights page. There you will find information about human rights and employment, face masks, as well as, human rights for business, housing, and service providers