Both the British Columbia and the Federal Government have recently introduced legislation to amend their respective human rights legislation to include gender identity and gender expression among the protected grounds of discrimination. These amendments will mean that individuals will have a right under the respective legislation to make a complaint if they have been discriminated against because of their gender identity or expression, including in employment settings.

Federally regulated employers and employers in British Columbia should review and update their policies on non-discrimination to ensure that these two new prohibited grounds of discrimination are covered.

British Columbia’s Human Rights Code Amendment Act, 2016, S.B.C. 2016, c.26 was passed on July 25, 2016 and came into force on July 28, 2016 whereas the Federal Bill C-16 passed first reading in the House of Commons on May 17, 2016 and has yet to become law.

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