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Dispute Resolution Statistics

At year-end, the Commission had an active caseload of 568 complaints, down from 576 the previous year. The average age of its active caseload also decreased from 9.1 months in 2007 to 8.9 months in 2008. The following tables provide detailed statistics on the complaints received by the Commission in 2008.

Figure 1 – Number of Enquiries during the last three years

figure 1 represents the number of inquiries that the commission has received during the last three years and refers to the first contact a person or group has with the commission regarding an incident, practice or policy that the person or group believes is discriminatory. the contact can take place by telephone, mail, email, or in person. the commission received 13,538 inquiries in 2006; 8,158 in 2007; and 7,482 in 2008.

Figure 2 – Signed Complaints by Types of Respondents 

the number of signed complaints against respondents in the private sector in 2006 was 316 or 44 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints against respondents in the private sector in 2007 was 315 or 49 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints against respondents in the private sector in 2008 was 288 or 50 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints against respondents in the federal government in 2006 was 301 or 42 percent of complaints. please note that federal government includes employers in the core public administration, separate federal government organizations or agencies and crown corporations. the number of signed complaints against respondents in the federal government in 2007 was 253 or 40 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints against respondents in the federal government in 2008 was 205 or 36 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints against unions in 2006 was 17 or 2 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints against unions in 2007 was 29 or 5 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints against unions in 2008 was 34 or 6 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints against individuals in 2006 was 49 or 7 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints against individuals in 2007 was 21 or 3 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints against individuals in 2008 was 28 or 5 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints against reserves, bands and councils in 2006 was 34 or 5 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints against reserves, bands and councils in 2007 was 20 or 3 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints against reserves, bands and councils in 2008 was 28 or 5 percent of complaints. the total number of signed complaints in 2006 was 717. the total number of signed complaints in 2007 was 638. the total number of signed complaints in 2008 was 577.

Figure 3 – Signed Complaints by Province or Territory

the number of signed complaints in ontario in 2006 was 379 or 53 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in ontario in 2007 was 305 or 48 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in ontario in 2008 was 271 or 47 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in british columbia./yukon in 2006 was 95 or 13 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in b.c./yukon in 2007 was 104 or 16 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in b.c./yukon in 2008 was 126 or 22 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in quebec in 2006 was 70 or 10 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in quebec in 2007 was 75or 12 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in quebec in 2008 was 52 or 9 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in alberta, northwest territories and nunavut in 2006 was 57 or 8 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in alberta, nwt and nunavut in 2007 was 61 or 10 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in alberta, nwt and nunavut in 2008 was 54 or 9 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in nova scotia in 2006 was 29 or 4 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in nova scotia in 2007 was 27 or 4 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in nova scotia in 2008 was 14 or 2 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in manitoba in 2006 was 33 or 5 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in manitoba in 2007 was 22 or 3 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in manitoba in 2008 was 31 or 5 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints outside of canada in 2006 was 1 or 0 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints outside of canada in 2007 was 19 or3 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints outside of canada in 2008 was 6 or 1 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in saskatchewan in 2006 was 20 or 3 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in saskatchewan in 2007 was 17 or 3 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in saskatchewan in 2008 was 11 or 2 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in new brunswick in 2006 was 18 or 3 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in new brunswick in 2007 was 5 or 1 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in new brunswick in 2008 was 7 or 1 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in newfoundland/labrador in 2006 was 5 or 1 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in nfld/labrador in 2007 was 3 or 0 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in nfld/labrador in 2008 was 5 or 1 percent of complaints. the number of signed complaints in pei in 2006 was 10 or 1 percent. the number of signed complaints in pei in 2007 was 0. the number of signed complaints in pei in 2008 was 0. the total number of signed complaints in 2006 was 717. the total number of signed complaints in 2007 was 638. the total number of signed complaints in 2008 was 577.

Figure 4 – Ground(s) of Discrimination Cited in Signed Complaints*

372 complaints on the ground of disability were signed in 2006 or 34 percent. 298 complaints on the ground of disability were signed in 2007 or 35 percent. 269 complaints on the ground of disability were signed in 2008 or 32 percent. 160 complaints on the ground of sex were signed in 2006 or 15 percent. 113 complaints on the ground of sex were signed in 2007 or 13 percent. 104 complaints on the ground of sex were signed in 2007 or 12 percent. 68 complaints on the ground of age were signed in 2006 or 6 percent. 99 complaints on the ground of age were signed in 2007 or 12 percent. 103 complaints on the ground of age were signed in 2008 or 12 percent. 145 complaints on the ground of national or ethnic origin were signed in 2006 or 13 percent. 98 complaints on the ground of national or ethnic origin were signed in 2007 or 12 percent. 95 complaints on the ground of national or ethnic origin were signed in 2008 or 11 percent. 112 complaints on the ground of race were signed in 2006 or 10 percent. 79 complaints on the ground of race were signed in 2007 or 9 percent. 72 complaints on the ground of race were signed in 2008 or 9 percent. 82 complaints on the ground of colour were signed in 2006 or 8 percent. 52 complaints on the ground of colour were signed in 2007 or 6 percent. 40 complaints on the ground of colour were signed in 2008 or 5 percent. 56 complaints on the ground of family status were signed in 2006 or 5 percent. 37 complaints on the ground of family status were signed in 2007 or 4 percent. 42 complaints on the ground of family status were signed in 2008 or 5 percent. 39 complaints on the ground of religion were signed in 2006 or 4 percent. 31 complaints on the ground of religion were signed in 2007 or 4 percent. 23 complaints on the ground of religion were signed in 2008 or 3 percent. 36 complaints on the ground of sexual orientation were signed in 2006 or 3 percent. 18 complaints on the ground of sexual orientation were signed in 2007 or 2 percent. 15 complaints on the ground of sexual orientation were signed in 2008 or 2 percent. 20 complaints on the ground of marital status were signed in 2006 or 2 percent. 14 complaints on the ground of marital status were signed in 2007 or 2 percent. 21 complaints on the ground of marital status were signed in 2008 or 3 percent. 0 complaints on the ground of pardon were signed in 2006. 1 complaints on the ground of pardon were signed in 2007. 0 complaints on the ground of pardon were signed in 2008. a total of 1,090 grounds were cited in 2006. a total of 840 grounds were cited in 2007. a total of 784 grounds were cited in 2008. please note that the total number of grounds cited exceeds the number of complaints signed because some complaints dealt with more than one ground.

Figure 5 – Types of Allegation Cited in Signed Complaints*

925 or72 percent of complaints signed in 2006 were employment-related complaints (sections 7, 8, 10). 774 or 73 percent of complaints signed in 2007 were employment-related complaints (sections 7, 8, 10). 738 or 71 percent of complaints signed in 2008 were employment-related complaints (sections 7, 8, 10). 120 or 9 percent of complaints signed in 2006 were services-related (sections 5, 6). 106 or 10 percent of complaints signed in 2007 were services-related (sections 5, 6). 143 or 14 percent of complaints signed in 2008 were services-related (sections 5, 6). 166 or 13 percent of complaints signed in 2006 related to harassment in employment (section 14). 106 or 10 percent of complaints signed in 2007 related to harassment in employment (section 14). 119 or 11 percent of complaints signed in 2008 related to harassment in employment (section 14). 18 or 1 percent of complaints signed in 2006 related to retaliation (section 14.1). 30 or 3 percent of complaints signed in 2007 related to retaliation (section 14.1). 15 or 1 percent of complaints signed in 2008 related to retaliation (section 14.1). 5 or 0 percent of complaints signed in 2006 related to union membership (section 9). 17 complaints or 2 percent signed in 2007 related to union membership (section 9). 12 or 1 percent of complaints signed in 2008 related to union membership (section 9). 20 or 2 percent of complaints signed in 2006 related to hate messages (section 13). 16 or 2 percent of complaints signed in 2007 related to hate messages (section 13). 1 or 0 percent of complaints signed in 2008 related to hate messages (section 13). 18 or 1 percent of complaints signed in 2006 related to harassment in services (section 14). 5 or 0 percent of complaints signed in 2007 related to harassment in services (section 14). 7 or 1 percent of complaints signed in 2008 related to harassment in services (section 14). 9 complaints or 1 percent signed in 2006 were related to pay equity (section 11). 2 or 0 percent of complaints signed in 2007 were related to pay equity (section 11). no complaints were signed in 2008 related to pay equity (section 11). 1 complaint signed in 2006 related to notices, signs, symbols (section 12). 0 complaint signed in 2007 related to notices, signs, symbols (section 12). 0 complaint signed in 2008 related to notices, signs, symbols (section 12). total number of allegations cited in 2006 is 1,282. total number of allegations cited in 2007 is 1,056. total number of allegations cited in 2008 is 1,038. please note that the total number of allegations cited exceeds the total number of complaints signed because some complaints dealt with more than one allegation.

Figure 6 – Final Decisions by Type

in 2008, the commission decided not to pursue 210 cases after a section 40/41 analysis, compared to 288 in 2007, and 384 in 2006. under section 40/41 of the act, the commission may decide not to deal with a complaint because the complainant ought to pursue another redress mechanism, or because the complaint is out of time, out of jurisdiction, or considered trivial, frivolous or vexatious. in 2008, 199 cases were dismissed, compared to 203 in 2007, and 297 in 2006. in 2008, 193 cases were settled, compared to 234 in 2007, and 278 in 2006. in 2008, 135 cases were referred to tribunal, compared to 125* in 2007, and 96 in 2006. please note that our last annual report showed 136 cases having been referred to tribunal in 2007. that figure has been adjusted downward to 125 this year to reflect the fact that 11 of the cases were settled through conciliation during 2008, prior to tribunal hearing.
Last Updated: 2009-03-31
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