Glossary - Human Rights
In Human Rights
The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (the Tribunal) decides if your human rights have been violated. If you think your rights under the Code have been violated, you can file an application directly with the Tribunal. The Tribunal will decide the best way to deal with your situation. The Tribunal might also decide that your rights have not been violated or that they do not have the power to deal with your case.
An independent agency set up by the Ontario government to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants. It is similar to a court, but less formal. It has “members” who are like judges and make decisions after hearing both sides.
In Human Rights
A mediated agreement is an agreement that 2 parties make with the help of a third person called a mediator during mediation. If the parties make a mediated agreement on some or all of their issues, they do not need to have a hearing at a court or tribunal about the things they have agreed on.
In Debt and Consumer Rights, Employment and Work, Housing Law, Human Rights
In mediation, people who don’t agree on something meet with someone called a mediator. The mediator tries to help them find a solution that they agree on.
A mediator does not make decisions or force anyone to agree to anything. If people make an agreement after mediation, they either:
- won’t need to have a hearing at a court or tribunal, where a judge or adjudicator decides for them, or
- will only need a hearing about the things they still don’t agree on.
In Human Rights
When 2 parties don’t agree on something, a third person called a mediator can talk to both of them to try to help them reach an agreement. This process is called mediation. A mediator is neutral, which means they don’t take sides. They don’t have the power to decide anything or force anyone to agree to anything.
If the mediation process works, both parties will make an agreement on some or all of their issues. This will not need to have a hearing at a court or tribunal about the things they agree on.
In Human Rights
Non-binary is a person whose gender identity is different from stereotypical gender categories and who may not identify as either a trans man or trans woman. Non-binary can include a person who identifies as both a male and a female, neither a male nor a female, or some other gender.
In Criminal Law, Employment and Work, Human Rights
A record suspension used to be called a pardon. If you have a criminal record, you may be able to apply to the Parole Board of Canada for a record suspension. If you get a record suspension, your criminal record is not erased. But it is set aside and you can say you don’t have one.
There are rules about how long you have to wait to apply and what you need to show for your application to be successful.
A remedy is an order made by a court or tribunal to give someone their legal rights or to compensate them for their rights not being respected.
For example, if a landlord is not doing repairs that are needed, the Landlord and Tenant Board could order the landlord to do the repairs, lower the tenant’s rent until the repairs are done, or let the tenant move out with short notice.
Or, the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal might order an employer to change their policy manual to deal with discrimination in the workplace.
In Family Law, Housing Law, Human Rights, Tribunals and Courts
Give or deliver a document to someone. Usually the law says how you can give or deliver the document, who has to get it, and the deadline by which they have to get it.
In Human Rights
A service is something that is offered to help meet a need. Some examples are:
- Stores, restaurants and bars
- Hospitals and health services
- Schools, universities and colleges
- Public places, amenities and utilities such as recreation centres, public washrooms, malls and parks
- Services and programs provided by municipal and provincial governments including social assistance and other benefits, and public transit
- Services provided by insurance companies
Services can be offered by individuals, companies, or the government.
