Frequently asked questions

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• Are emotional support animals (dogs, cats, etc.) recognized as a means of palliating a disability? Do people who have these animals with them have a right to reasonable accommodation and access to public places?

  To date, formally-trained service dogs, including guide dogs, are the only animals that the Québec courts have recognized as a means of palliating a disability, but other animals could eventually be recognized as well.

  If a person who uses an emotional support animal that has not received special training requests accommodation and access to a public place, their request should still be considered. The person’s request should include documentation attesting to:

  • their need for the animal (disability, medical condition, mental health condition)
  • the animal’s usefulness in meeting this need

  Considering their request may require assessing the animal’s behaviour and any risks it may present by entering the establishment. Doing so can be more difficult if the animal has not received special training. An accommodation agreement for the specific animal and its behaviour can be negotiated. If this accommodation would create undue hardship (for example, if the animal is dangerous), then the establishment should collaborate with the person to find other ways of accommodating them.
  
  

  Learn more about reasonable accommodation
  Using animals to palliate a disability

• Are dogs that are in training being trained to become service dogs allowed in public places?

  As a person with a disability will benefit from the training received by this dog, it is encouraged to allow it access to public areas.

  Using animals to palliate a disability

• For what reasons can someone refuse to rent to me?

  There are some legitimate reasons to refuse to rent someone a home. These are mainly related to your ability to pay the rent. The Tribunal administratif du logement, Québec’s housing authority, has more information on this.
  Tribunal administratif du logement

  To some extent, property owners can choose whom they want to rent to, but they do not have the right to discriminate. The right to housing equality is enshrined in the Charter. This means that no one can refuse to rent to you on the basis of any of the 14 prohibited grounds for discrimination that it contains.

  For example, no one can refuse to rent to you for the following reasons: 

  • your “race”, your colour or your ethnic or national origin
  • your religion
  • your age (as long as you are over 18)
  • having children or being a single parent (civil status is a prohibited ground for discrimination)
  • being pregnant (pregnancy is a prohibited ground for discrimination)
  • being a student (social condition is a prohibited ground for discrimination)
  • being on social assistance or being unemployed (social condition is a prohibited ground for discrimination)
  • having a disability or using a means to palliate a disability, such as a wheelchair or service dog
  • being female or male (sex is a prohibited ground for discrimination)
  • being gay, lesbian, or 2SLGBTQ+ (sexual orientation is a prohibited ground for discrimination)
  • being trans (gender identity or expression is a prohibited ground for discrimination)
  • not being cisgender (gender identity or expression is a prohibited ground for discrimination)
  •  your political convictions
  • your language.

  These are just some examples of personal characteristics that are Charter-prohibited grounds for discrimination.
  See all the prohibited grounds for discrimination

  If you believe you have experienced discrimination for any of these reasons, you can file a complaint with the Commission.
  File a complaint

• When is reasonable accommodation required for a guide dog or other service dog?

  People who use a guide dog or othe service dog to palliate a disability have the right to reasonable accommodation in all public services, public transportation and public places. This includes schools, buses, restaurants, hotels, cinemas, parks and more.

  You have a duty to accommodate if:

  • the person requesting the accommodation has proof that their dog was trained by a specialized organization, and
  • accommodating the person will not cause you undue hardship
    Remember:
    • Sometimes, hospitals can restrict access for reasons of hygiene. A service dog may be refused entry to areas like the operating room, where maximum sanitation is critical.
    • You may have to find solutions for someone who is allergic to dogs, while still ensuring that a person with a disability can keep their service dog with them. In 2008, the Superior Court of Québec ruled that dog allergies are less harmful than food allergies and that dogs pose no serious threat to an allergic person’s health unless they have close contact.

  If a person who uses an emotional support animal that has not received special training requests accommodation and access to a public place, their request should also be considered. The person’s request should include documentation attesting to:

  • their need for the animal (disability, medical condition, mental health condition)
  • the animal’s usefulness in meeting this need

  
  

  Learn more about reasonable accommodation
  Contact our advisory service
  Using animals to palliate a disability

• What disabilities allow someone to bring a service dog into my business?

  There is no definitive, exhaustive list of disabilities that a service dog can help with. In general, disability must be interpreted broadly and liberally. It can be physical, psychological or cognitive. The list of disabilities with which a service dog can help changes as new cases are brought to court.

  Learn more on using animals to palliate a disability

• Can I require someone to give me proof of their disability before I let them into my business?

  No. You cannot require someone to prove that they have a disability before agreeing to let them enter a business, restaurant, or mode of transportation with their service dog. People do not have to provide a medical note or any other proof of their needs or of how their animal helps meet those needs.

  However, to bring a service dog into areas that are open to the public:

  • the dog must wear a visible marker showing the logo of the organization that trained it (e.g., a harness, bandana, vest, etc.)
  • the person may also have to provide a document from the training organization stating that the dog has received specialized training.

  Learn more on using animals to palliate a disability

• Are there any certified training organizations?

  No. A number of specialized organizations (non-profits, private trainers, etc.) can train service dogs, but Québec does not have a registry of certified organizations.

  Learn more on using animals to palliate a disability