Canada: Human Rights

The Supreme Court of Canada’s recent decision in Democracy Watch v. Canada (Attorney General)[1] brings renewed focus to a familiar feature of administrative statutes: provisions known as “privative clauses,” which seek to limit court oversight of the legality of actions and decisions taken by statutory bodies such as administrative boards and tribunals.

In Haynes v Alberta (Human Rights Commission and Tribunal), 2026 ABKB 575 [Haynes] the Court of King’s Bench took a closer look at the discretion held by the Director of the Commission and the Chief of the Commission and Tribunals, and it provided further clarity on a complainant’s ability to proceed before the Tribunal when they have other more appropriate forums available for resolution.

Navigating a shift in gender identity involves profound personal changes that extend into legal and estate planning considerations. Understanding how name changes, gender identifiers, pronouns, and medical directives intersect with wills and powers of attorney ensures that estate plans authentically reflect and honor a person's true identity throughout their life and after death.

Canada has launched public consultations on Bill C-35, its proposed forced labour legislation, following US criticism of the country's current regime. The consultation period runs from July 27 to August 21, 2026, with Global Affairs Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada seeking stakeholder input on identifying forced labour goods, importer requirements, and supply chain due diligence measures.

Summer is peak season for many Ontario employers. Tourism operators, restaurants, retail stores, camps, agricultural businesses, and recreation facilities all rely heavily on temporary and seasonal workers to meet demand. While these roles may be short‑term, the legal obligations toward these employees are anything but casual. Ontario’s employment and human rights laws apply to temporary, seasonal, part‑time, as well as full‑time staff.

The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (the “Tribunal”) recently reaffirmed the central importance of the duty to investigate in the workplace. In Dabbagui v. AV Terrace Bay, 2026 HRTO 784, the Tribunal found that an employer’s failure to meaningfully investigate allegations of workplace discrimination before terminating a probationary employee resulted in a breach of the Human Rights Code (the “Code”).

The Canadian government has introduced Bill C-35, legislation that would prohibit the importation of goods produced wholly or in part by forced labour.

On June 22, 2026, Minister of Transport Steven MacKinnon and Alto President and CEO Martin Imbleau announced updates to Canada's high-speed rail corridor plan, introducing a new southern route option that may include Kingston as a stop. This development raises important questions about Indigenous consultation, land rights, and environmental impacts, particularly given the potential overlap with Williams Treaties lands and the concerns expressed by First Nation communities about meaningful participation in d

First Nations seeking self-determined governance through custom election codes face critical drafting challenges that can undermine their sovereignty.