Changes to HRTO Rules of Procedure & Practice Directions - Changements des règles de procédure et directives de pratique

The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario (HRTO) has announced changes to its Rules of Procedure and Practice Directions coming into effect June 1st 2025. See our home page for details. -- À compter du 1er juin 2025, le Tribunal des droits de la personne de l'Ontario (TDPO) annonce des changements aux règles de procédure et aux directives de pratique. Pour plus de détails, veuillez consulter notre page principale.

*IMPORTANT*: Effective June 1, 2025
Changes have been made to HRTO Rules of Procedure & Practice Directions

Click to read more about how these changes will impact your application

Contact Information

We’ve made some exciting updates to our service delivery!

With the relaunch of our new Client Portal, you can get started on your intake online.

If you haven’t yet filed an application with the HRTO, please visit our Getting Started page to learn more about your rights, legal options and the HRLSC.

For returning clients or individuals with Notices or Applications already filed with the HRTO, you can get started with the link below.

If you have experienced discrimination and you would like:

  • Legal assistance in completing an application to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario
  • Legal advice about how to address the discrimination that you experienced

You are responsible for meeting any time limits.


Office Remains Closed for Visits

To mitigate the spread of COVID-19, our offices remain closed to visits from the public until further notice. Our intake lines will remain open, and our staff will be working remotely.

Questions or inquiries, please call us:

Tel: (416) 597-4900
Toll Free: 1-866-625-5179
TTY: please dial 711
Fax: 416-597-4901
Fax (toll free): 1-866-625-5180

Our telephone lines are open*:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: 9 am to 5 pm
Thursday: 2 pm to 5 pm

The Centre may close the phone lines at other times when experiencing an unusually high call volume or shortage of call centre staff.

*Phones are busiest on Thursdays between 2 pm to 4 pm

Please note: Due to significant demand, and in consideration of our existing service criteria, the HRLSC may not be able to provide applicants with all the legal support services that may be requested.

The HRLSC does not tolerate any abuse of its staff. Our staff reserve the right to end a client call, or other legal support services, and may deny further services due to inappropriate conduct, including harassment or discriminatory behaviour.

We are closed on the following public holidays:

  • New Year’s Day
  • Family Day
  • Good Friday
  • Easter Monday
  • Victoria Day
  • Canada Day
  • Civic Holiday (August)
  • Labour Day
  • National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
  • Remembrance Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Day
  • Boxing Day

If you have received a Notice of Mediation or Notice of Hearing

If you do not already have a legal representative, you should email us as soon as possible and we will let you know if your case is eligible for our legal services.

When contacting us, do not forget to:

  • indicate your name, phone number and contact information in the body of your email
  • attach your Notice of Mediation or Hearing
  • send your email to notices@hrlsc.on.ca

Please, note that this does not guarantee the HRLSC will be able to represent you.


If you are calling for someone else

We can give you general information about human rights, but we will have to speak directly with the person affected by the discrimination.


Languages

We can provide service in 140 languages. Just call us, and we will arrange to speak with you in the language of your choice. You can also provide your own interpreter. Select information sheets are on this web site in Chinese, Vietnamese, Urdu, Arabic, Somali, Spanish, Tamil, Punjabi, and Tagalog.


Disability-related needs

We want to make sure that our service is as barrier-free as possible. If you are unable to communicate by telephone because of a Human Rights Code protected reason, such as disability, please e-mail accommodation@hrlsc.on.ca. Please mark the fax or e-mail or letter clearly as a request for accommodation.

If you would like to ask for accommodation at the Centre in advance of your conversation with a member of the staff, please contact us:

Telephone: 416-597-4900 (toll free 1-866 625-5179)
TTY: please dial 711
Mail at 180 Dundas Street West, 8th Floor Toronto (Ontario) M7A 0A1 or
Fax: 416-597-4901


If your question is about something other than accommodation in our services, please use the main telephone line at 416-597-4900 or 1-866-625-5179.

Please see our Access and Accommodation policy for more information.


Public Legal Education

Our legal education workshops help organizations and communities looking to support people who may experience discrimination or harassment.

 We provide information about our legal support services, including legal options under Ontario’s Human Rights Code, and the process of filing an application and asserting your rights at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.

The HRLSC can provide educational brochures and posters for your office, or facilitate workshops, including as led by members of our legal team and Indigenous Services Outreach Committee. For more information, please contact aursel@hrlsc.on.ca.
 
Note: The HRLSC’s mandate is focused on supporting and legally advocating for individuals who experience discrimination or harassment. the Centre does not give advice to organizations or groups that have human rights complaints made against them. 

For organizations seeking practical help with developing effective and fair ways to prevent human rights infringements, and for responding to human rights issues such as harassment, discrimination, and accommodation needs, please contact the Ontario Human Rights Commission, which is responsible for promoting understanding and awareness of, and compliance with, the Ontario Human Rights Code. 


Media

Media or members of the press are invited to contact media@hrlsc.on.ca for any media inquiries.


If you have an appointment

Please be aware of our scent-free policy, do not wear perfume or after-shave if you are meeting with Centre staff in person. Our offices are located at:

Human Rights Legal Support Centre
180 Dundas Street West, 8th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M7A 0A1
Fax: 1-866-625-5180 or 416-597-4901


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