Human Rights Tribunal Ontario – Ottawa (2025 Guide)

What the HRTO Does (Ottawa)

You can file an HRTO application if you were discriminated against because of:

• Disability
• Family status (your role as a parent)
• Race / ethnic origin
• Colour
• Creed
• Gender identity or expression
• Sex
• Sexual orientation
• Age
• Marital status
• Receipt of public assistance (OW/ODSP) – housing cases only
• Citizenship (limited situations)

The HRTO hears cases involving:

• Landlords and housing providers
• Employers and workplaces
• Schools and educational institutions
• Government services
• Public programs
• Hospitals and healthcare services

Examples of Discrimination in Ottawa Housing

Common real-world cases include:

Which Form to File

All HRTO matters use the same application:

What the Tribunal Can Order

If the Tribunal finds that a respondent infringed your rights under Part I of the Human Rights Code, it can make one or more of these orders (Human Rights Code, s. 45.2(1)). What it orders, and any amount, depends on the facts it finds.

How to Organize Your HRTO Application in Ottawa

An application with its evidence in order is easier for the Tribunal and the other side to follow. Here's one way to organize it:

Step 1 — Create a Clear Timeline

Your story must be chronological:

• Date
• What happened
• How you were treated
• How it affected you
• Connection to your protected ground

Step 2 — Gather Evidence

Strong evidence includes:

• Emails
• Text messages
• Screenshots
• Photos/videos
• Notices or letters
• Medical notes
• Witness statements
• Housing inspection results
• Property Standards reports
• CAS documentation (if children affected)

The HRTO accepts many types of evidence.

Step 3 — Show the Connection

You must show:

Example: "You people from ODSP always cause problems." → This directly connects to income-source discrimination.

Another example: "We don't want kids running around here." → Clear family status discrimination.

Step 4 — File Form 1

You submit:

• Form 1
• All your evidence
• Timeline
• Details of discrimination
• Remedies you want

Quorex can help you organize these for you to check and file.

Step 5 — Mediation or Hearing in Ottawa

The HRTO will usually offer:

• ✔ Mediation → Less formal; you and the respondent can try to agree on a settlement
• ✔ Hearing → If mediation fails, a tribunal hearing is scheduled

Ottawa hearings are sometimes remote, sometimes hybrid.

Common Ottawa HRTO Case Patterns

• ✔ Tenants threatened with eviction because of children → Family status discrimination
• ✔ Landlord refuses repairs after learning of disability → Disability discrimination
• ✔ ODSP/OW tenants treated as "lesser" → Income-source discrimination
• ✔ Racial profiling by landlords or property managers → Race discrimination
• ✔ Punished for raising a human rights complaint → Reprisal under section 8 of the Code

HRTO vs. LTB in Ottawa – Which One Do You Use?

Often: Both.

Example:

• Unsafe housing → T6
• Harassment → T2
• Disability discrimination → HRTO
• Threat of eviction → N4 defence

Quorex can give the exact routing: Which tribunal, which form, what order, what timeline.

Location & Contact – HRTO Ottawa

FAQ – HRTO Ottawa (2025)