Service dogs and guide dogs
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The courts have recognized that service dogs and guide dogs as a means of palliating a disability. The first court decision in Québec which upheld the prohibition of discriminating against persons who use a guide dog dates back to 1982. |
English language translations are provided when available.
2020 | La Commission remporte un jugement pour un couple et leur fils en démontrant au Tribunal des droits de la personne qu'ils ont été victimes de discrimination sur la base du moyen de pallier un handicap dans le cadre de la signature d’un bail de location. Le propriétaire a été condamné à verser plus de 13 940 $ aux trois victimes.
2015 | The Québec Court of Appeal finds that the parents of a child with a pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) who use a service dog to palliate its disability are protected by the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms and must have access to public places when accompanied by the dog, even in the absence of the child.
2013 | In cooperation with the Fondation Mira, the Commission releases an information leaflet on service dogs and guide dogs. (This leaflet is no longer available)
2011 | The Commission concludes that Service dogs for children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD) constitute a means to palliate a disability.
- News release
- Avis (In french only)
2007 | The Commission finds that a service dog is a means to palliate the disability of a deaf or hearing impaired person.
- Avis (In french only)
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Other news releases
English language translations are provided when available.
- 2021
Une juge accorde plus de 6 600 $ à un couple discriminé par un hôtelier de Sherbrooke à cause d’un chien guide - 2020
Novak, un chien d’assistance à l’origine d’une condamnation de 13 940$ - 2015
An important legal victory for parents of autistic children who use a service dog to palliate a disability - 2012
Refus d’un chien d’assistance dans un restaurant : Un client handicapé sera dédommagé (in French only) (PDF, 137 Ko) - 2011
Handicap et chien d’accompagnement : Un usager d’un terrain de camping sera dédommagé (in French only) - 2009
Entente novatrice pour l’admission des chiens-guides ou d’assistance au Zoo de Granby (PDF, 26 Ko)
- 2021
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Judgments
- CDPDJ (D.R. et autres) c. Ducharme (2020)
La Commission remporte un jugement pour un couple et leur fils en démontrant au Tribunal des droits de la personne qu'ils ont été victimes de discrimination sur la base du moyen de pallier un handicap dans le cadre de la signature d’un bail de location. Le propriétaire a été condamné à verser plus de 13 940 $ aux trois victimes.
- CDPDJ c. Côté (2015)
The Québec Court of Appeal found that the parents of an autistic child who use a service dog to palliate its disability are protected by the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms and must have access to public places when accompanied by the dog, even in the absence of the child.
- CDPDJ c. Bar La Divergence (1994) (in French only)
The owners of a disco-bar refused access to a blind person because she was accompanied by a guide dog. They were required to pay $3,000 to the victim.
- CDPDJ c. Quillorama de l'Anse inc. et Roger Ouellet (1998) (in French only)
Quillorama de l'Anse inc. and its owner were ordered to pay $500 to a disabled customer to whom they had refused access because she was with a service dog.
- CDPDJ (Sylvain Lemay) c. Coopérative de taxis de Montréal (2008) (in French only)
A taxi driver and a taxi company were ordered to pay $5,000 to a disabled man for refusing to transport him because he was accompanied by a service dog. The taxi company also had to establish a non-discrimination policy, particularly on the basis of handicap.
- CDPDJ (Michel Larochelle) c. Montuori Holdings Corporation et Pellegrino Montuori (2008) (in French only)
A waiter refused to serve a disabled man accompanied by his service dog because he was allergic to dogs. The waiter and Montuori Holdings Corporation were ordered to pay $4,000 to the complainant.
- CDPDJ (D.R. et autres) c. Ducharme (2020)
Did you know?
The courts have established that disabled people can choose the means of their choice to compensate their disability, whether a service dog, a wheelchair or both means.
To learn more
- Information page: Using animals to palliate a disability
- Frequently asked questions: Questions about guide or assistance dogs
- Information page: Disability and the means used to palliate a disability
Discriminated against because of her guide dog
Discriminated against by a gym owner because of the presence of her guide dog, Gracia went all the way to the Human Rights Tribunal to have her rights recognized.