Tribunal

BC Human Rights Tribunal

About

The BC Human Rights Tribunal is an independent body created by the BC Human Rights Code. The tribunal cannot deal with any other type of discrimination. The tribunal is responsible for receiving human rights complaints.

The Tribunal screens complaints to see if they set out facts showing discrimination under the Code, and that they are filed within the 6 month timeframe. If it accepts a complaint, the tribunal offers mediation. This is a free service.

The tribunal can dismiss a complaint based on written submissions in some cases. An example is if it decides there is no reasonable prospect the complaint will succeed at a hearing.

Most complaints are resolved without a hearing. If the tribunal holds a hearing, it will decide if the complaint is justified. If it is, the tribunal will order a remedy. If it is not justified, the tribunal will dismiss the complaint.

The tribunal is made up of members who are experts in human rights law and are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council.

Contact

BC Human Rights Tribunal
1270 - 605 Robson Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 5J3

Telephone: 604-775-2000; 604-775-2021 (TTY); 1-888-440-8844 (toll free)
Fax: 604-775-2020
Website: www.bchrt.bc.ca/index.htm
Email: BCHumanRightsTribunal@gov.bc.ca

Justice Education Society Resources

Early Resolution

The following information does not apply specifically to the BC Human Rights Tribunal. However it is general information that can help you decide if you want to try to resolve your dispute before making a complaint to the tribunal, negotiate a resolution, or prepare for mediation or a hearing.

Before you file with the tribunal, have you tried to work out your situation by other methods? The tribunal process can take a lot of time and may not result in the decision you expected. Use this Early Dispute Resolution checklist to find out if you have tried all avenues available to you. The following videos and PDFs will also help you.

Negotiating a Solution

You’ve prepared for your tough talk, now you’re ready for the next step: negotiation.
Read the PDF.

Understanding Disputes

Here’s what’s really going on behind most disputes.
Read the PDF.

Preparing for a Tough Talk

Find out how to prepare for a difficult conversation to settle a dispute.
Read the PDF.

Choosing a Dispute Resolution Option

Find out about mediation and other ways to resolve disputes.
Read the PDF.

Preparing for a Hearing

If you accessed the tribunal process and mediation was unsuccessful, use this Tribunal Hearing Preparation checklist to help you get ready. You may also like to take a look at these videos and PDFs for more about how to prepare your case.