Discrimination: How Human Rights Laws Protect You

Publisher:  British Columbia CIvil Liberties Association, Vancouver, Canada
Year Published:  1979
Pages:  29pp   Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX2054

Abstract: 
Both federal and B.C.'s provincial human rights law are described in this handbook which is designed to help people determine which laws protect them from discrimination, and how they may obtain assistance. It is a 'how-to' guide and presents no discussion of the effectiveness of the laws nor of their shortcomings.

The B.C. Human Rights Code is explained, as is the Canadian Human Rights Act. A distinction is made between what protection the law always affords - i.e. discrimination on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin and religion is always illegal - whereas discrimination on the basis of criteria such as age, sex, political beliefs and physical handicap is not always deemed illegal.

Preference is also made to the controversial case involving the Vancouver Sun newspaper which refused to carry a classified ad promoting a homosexual publication. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled in favour of the newspaper.

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