Your rights in juridical acts (contracts, insurance policies)
Everyone has the right to be treated equally when entering into a legal agreement (known in Québec as a juridical act).
This means that you cannot be discriminated against or harassed when negotiating or signing agreements like:
- leases
- employment agreements
- collective agreements
- wills
- insurance or pension contracts
- employee benefit plans; retirement, pension or insurance plans
This right to equal treatment is guaranteed by the Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.
ExceptionIn agreements for insurance, pensions, employee benefits or retirement: Differentiation on the basis of age, sex or civil status is non-discriminatory if this information is used to evaluate risk. For example, an insurance company may ask you questions about your age and sex to determine your premiums. |
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Examples of discrimination in juridical acts
- A school board refuses to rent unused school space to a LGBTQ advocacy group
- A company’s collective agreement gives more benefits to the children of directors than to the children of other employees
- When renting to a single parent a landlord requires at least two people to sign the lease
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What can you do in cases of discrimination?
If you have experienced discrimination, confirm whether you can file a complaint with the Commission:
- by learning about the prohibited grounds for discrimination that apply to your case
- by visiting our File a complaint page
This video explains the rights protected in juridical acts in American Sign Language (ASL)