Our mandate
The Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission has a two-fold mandate:
- to foster equality
- to reduce discrimination
It fulfills this mandate through public education initiatives and the resolution and settlement of complaints of discrimination.
The Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act (HRCM Act) protects Albertans against discrimination in the following areas:
- publications and notices
- goods, services, accommodation and facilities
- tenancy
- employment practices
- applications and advertising regarding employment
- membership in trade unions, employers’ organizations or occupational associations
Within the areas listed above, it is a contravention of the HRCM Act to discriminate against any person on the basis of race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, physical disability, mental disability, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, family status or source of income. As of April 2, 1998, sexual orientation was read into the HRCM Act as a protected ground in all areas. Age is also a ground protected from discrimination, except in the areas of tenancy and goods and services.
In addition to the areas and grounds discussed above, the HRCM Act protects Albertans in the area of equal pay. This provision requires that employees who perform the same or substantially similar work for an employer must be paid at the same rate, regardless of gender.
Related pages:
- Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between the Minister and the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission
- Code of conduct for commissioners
- What the Commission does and does not do
- Strategic plan
Due to confidentiality concerns, the Commission cannot reply
to complaints of discrimination using the Internet.
Please contact the Commission by telephone or regular mail
if you have a specific complaint.
The Commission will make publications available in accessible multiple formats upon request. Multiple formats provide access for people with disabilities who do not read conventional print.
