The Ontario Human Rights Code provides that every person has the right to equal treatment with respect to goods, services, facilities, housing, contracts and employment as well as membership in trade or professional associations and unions without discrimination grounds of:
- Race
- Ancestry
- Place of origin
- Colour
- Ethnic origin
- Citizenship
- Creed
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
- Gender identity
- Gender expression
- Age
- Record of offence
- Receipt of public assistance
- Marital status
- Family status
- Disability
Discrimination is defined in University Policy 67a as:
a) a distinction—intentional or unintentional, direct or indirect—because of a person’s race, ancestry, ethnic origin, creed, place of origin, colour, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, pregnancy, marital status, family status, record of offences, political affiliation, religious belief, disability or means to accommodate the disability and
b) that has the effect of erecting barriers, or creating obligations, disadvantages or situations of unequal treatment that withhold or limit access to privileges, advantages or political, social or economic rights available to other members of society.
It can take many different forms, can target a single person or a group and can be part of a system.