Our mandate
The Alberta Human Rights 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 Alberta Human Rights Act (AHR 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 AHR 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, source of income or sexual orientation. 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 AHR 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 page:
Revised: November 14, 2012
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.
You can access information about making FOIP requests for records held by the Commission on our Contact us page.
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.
