For more in depth understanding of what each of these rights mean in your provincial or territorial jurisdiction, or for a definition of the categories listed below, we encourage you to look at the source links at the end of this page.

The following is a list of recognized human rights for which an individual is not to be discriminated against because they are identified within any one of these categories (those categories listed below with provinces/territory/federal[CAN] abbreviations listed behind in () indicate the provinces or territories which recognize the category – if there are no brackets, all provinces/territories/federal recognize them as a category of human right):

  • aboriginal origin (NS)
  • age (age meaning age of provincial/territorial majority or older) (AB, BC, ON, SK)
  • age (without limitations unless required by provincial or federal statute) (MB, NB, NL, NT, NS, NU, PEI, QC, YT, CAN)
  • ancestry (AB, BC, MB, NB, NT, NU, ON, SK, YT)
  • association with other individuals (NL, NS, NU, PEI, YT)
  • association with protected groups (NS, PEI, YT)
  • breast-feeding (NL, ON)
  • citizenship (NU, ON)
  • civil status (QC)
  • colour
  • creed (NT, NS, NU, ON, PEI, SK, YT)
  • creed of religion (NB, NL)
  • criminal charges (YT)
  • criminal conviction (BC, NL)
  • criminal record (YT)
  • disability (NT, NU, ON, PEI, SK, CAN)
  • disfigurement (NL)
  • ethnic origin (NL, NT, NS, NU, ON, PEI, QC, CAN)
  • family affiliation (NT)
  • family status (AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NT, NS, NU, ON, PEI, SK, YT, CAN)
  • gender (AB)
  • gender expression (AB, BC, NB, NL, NT, NS, NU, ON, PEI, QC, YT, CAN)
  • gender identity
  • genetic characteristics (CAN)
  • harassment (NS)
  • handicap (QC)
  • indigenous identity (BC)
  • irrational fear of contract an illness or disease (NS)
  • lawful source of income (NU)
  • language (QC)
  • learning disability (NL)
  • level of education (NB)
  • marital status (AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NT, NS, NU, ON, PEI, SK, YT)
  • mental disability (AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NS, PEI, YT)
  • mental disorder (NL)
  • nationality (MB, NL, NT, SK)
  • national origin (MB, NB, NS, PEI, QC, YT, CAN)
  • pardoned criminal conviction (NT, NU, CAN)
  • pay equality (AB, NS)
  • place of origin (AB, BC, NB, NT, ON, SK)
  • perceived disability (NL)
  • perceived race (SK)
  • physical disability (AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NS PEI)
  • political activity (NB, NS, YT)
  • political affiliation (NS, PEI)
  • political association (NT, YT)
  • political belief (BC, MB, NB, NT, NS, PEI, YT)
  • political convictions (QC)
  • political opinion (NL)
  • pregnancy (MB, NB, NL, NS, NU, ON, PEI, QC, YT)
  • race
  • receipt of public assistance (SK)
  • record suspension (NT, CAN)
  • religion (BC, NL, NT, NS, NU, PEI, QC, SK, YT, CAN)
  • religious association (MB)
  • religious beliefs (AB, MB)
  • retaliation (AB, NB, NL, NT, NS, PEI)
  • sex (BC, MB, NB, NL, NT, NS, NU, ON, PEI, QC, SK, YT, CAN)
  • sexual harassment (NS, PEI)
  • sexual orientation
  • social condition (NB, NT, QC)
  • social disadvantage (MB)
  • source of income (AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, NS, PEI, YT)
  • type of occupation (NB)
  • use of any means to palliate a handicap (QC)

Source – Alberta,

Source – British Columbia

Source – Manitoba

Source – New Brunswick

Source – Newfoundland & Labrador

Source – Northwest Territories

Source – Nova Scotia

Source – Nunavut

Source – Ontario

Source – Prince Edward Island

Source – Quebec

Source – Saskatchewan

Source – Yukon Territory

Source – Canada

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