Source of income

INFORMATION SHEET

A printable PDF version of this information sheet is available.

Source of income was added as a protected ground under the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act on July 15, 1996. The Act defines source of income as "lawful source of income."

The intent of human rights legislation is to protect people who historically have been disadvantaged because they have experienced discrimination based on specific personal characteristics such as race, colour, gender and disability.1 In keeping with this aim, only lawful income that commonly attracts a social stigma to its recipients is protected under the Act. Such income typically includes social assistance, and income supplements for seniors. Income that does not result in social stigma is not protected.

Source of income is protected under all the areas identified in the Act :

  • employment practices;
  • employment applications, advertisements or interviews;
  • tenancy;
  • goods, services, accommodation or facilities;
  • statements, publications, notices, signs, symbols, emblems or other representations; and
  • membership in a trade union, employers' organization or occupational association.

Although discrimination based on source of income may arise in a variety of areas, it usually occurs in the area of tenancy. For example, a landlord would contravene the Act if they refuse to rent an apartment to someone who receives social assistance, a disability pension, or an income supplement provided to low-income seniors by government. The Act does not prevent landlords from making business-related inquiries about a person's credit or rental history, or asking for references, and then making a decision whether to accept the person as a tenant based on the information.

Case examples

Glenn Miller v. 409205 Alberta Ltd. and Voco Property Group (2001)
In this Alberta case, Mr. Miller made a human rights complaint to the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission based on the ground of source of income in the area of tenancy. Mr. Miller received Alberta Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped, and his rent was subsidized through an agreement that his landlord signed with the Capital Region Housing Corporation (CRHC). The landlord, who was the respondent in the complaint, argued that Mr. Miller's four cats were damaging the property and for that reason, Mr. Miller was given notice to vacate the premises. After the eviction attempt was unsuccessful, the landlord increased Mr. Miller's rent and refused to sign a subsidy renewal agreement with CRHC, which would have maintained the rent subsidy payments for Mr. Miller's apartment. As a result, the rent subsidy was terminated. Mr. Miller argued that the landlord discriminated against him on the basis of physical disability and source of income.

An Alberta human rights panel found discrimination on the basis of source of income and ordered the landlord to pay $3,300 in damages for injury to Mr. Miller's dignity and self-respect, and $5,890 in specific damages arising from his loss of rent subsidy and rent increase. Liability was apportioned 60-40 between the landlord and Mr. Miller. The landlord appealed the panel decision in the Court of Queen's Bench. The court upheld the panel decision. View the complete panel decision. The court decision 409205 Alberta Ltd. v. Alberta (Human Rights & Citizenship Commission), 2002 ABQB 681 is on the provincial courts website at http://www.albertacourts.ab.ca/. Search the judgment database for "Glenn Miller."


Willis v. David Anthony Phillips Properties (1987)
In Ontario, human rights legislation prohibits discrimination based on receipt of public assistance. In Willis v. David Anthony Phillips Properties (1987), a board of inquiry found there was discrimination when a landlord denied a rental accommodation to a single mother who was living on mother's allowance.

Spence v. Kalstar Properties (1986)
Source of income was at issue in this decision from Manitoba. A board of inquiry held that the complainant Mr. Spence was discriminated against when the landlord refused to rent him an apartment because he was on welfare.

Footnote
1For the complete list of grounds protected under Alberta's human rights legislation, see the Commission information sheet Protected areas and grounds under the Human Rights, Citizenship and Multiculturalism Act.

Please note: A complaint must be made to the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission within one year after the alleged incident.

May 2007

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