Exploitation

Exploitation is the act of taking advantage of a person’s vulnerability or dependency to deprive them of their rights. The Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms prohibits exploitation of the elderly and of disabled persons.

How to identify exploitation?

For example, if you are a disabled or elderly person that is vulnerable (psychologically, socially, physically, economically or culturally) and that you depend on someone for your basic needs, it is forbidden to:

force you, under threat, to sign cheques or give someone access to your credit or debit card
prevent you from receiving visits from or communicating with relatives
prevent you from receiving appropriate medical services
ask you to pay for services that you do not receive

What to do in case of exploitation?

If you think you are a victim of exploitation, or if you have reason to believe that an elderly or a disabled person around you is a victim, you can seek the Commission’s assistance and file a complaint.