11.88°C Vancouver

Apr 1, 2021 7:18 PM -

Human Rights Code can't protect anti-maskers making unproven claims: tribunal

Share On
human-rights-code-cant-protect-anti-maskers-making-unproven-claims-tribunal
Masked shoppers crowd the aisles at a Costco in Burnaby, B.C, Sunday, December, 13, 2020. A decision by the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal says anyone denied service for refusing to wear a mask must be ready to prove they have a disability if they intend to file a human rights complaint. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

A decision by the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal says anyone denied service for refusing to wear a mask must be ready to prove they have a disability if they intend to file a complaint.

The warning is contained in a screening decision published Wednesday as tribunal member Steven Adamson addresses what he describes as a large volume of complaints alleging discrimination related to mask requirements.

Screening decisions are among the first steps in a tribunal investigation and are rarely released, but Adamson says he's publishing his findings because there have been many similar complaints since last October.

In his decision, Adamson rejects that an unnamed customer's human rights were violated when a security guard asked her to leave an unnamed store for refusing to wear a mask.

The ruling says the woman claimed the mask order is "pointless" and masks make breathing difficult and cause anxiety, but she would not explain any physical disability that might prevent use of a mask.

In tossing out the complaint, Adamson says although the woman has reported an ``adverse impact'' regarding service in the store, she hasn't offered any facts about a physical or mental condition.

Latest news

coquitlam-rcmp-phone-number-spoofed-in-scam-calls
BCSep 22, 2025

Coquitlam RCMP phone number spoofed in scam calls

Coquitlam RCMP is alerting the public about “spoofing scams” after receiving several reports that the Coquitlam RCMP Burquitlam Community Police Office phone number (604-949-5000) has been used for multiple frauds. Spoofing is a type of fraud where the fraudsters manipulate their caller ID to display “Coquitlam RCMP” or other police agencies. The fraudsters would pretend to be police officers and tell potential victims they are under investigation for a criminal offence. The fraudsters then attempt to obtain personal or financial information from the victim. “Scammers are pretend
AlbertaSep 22, 2025

Dozens of Alberta students play hooky, rally for teachers as strike deadline looms

Dozens of students played hooky from school to rally for teachers at Alberta's legislature today as a provincewide teachers strike deadline nears. They shouted, "Hey, hey, ho, ho, where did the budget go?' and waved signs in solidarity with the province's 51,000 teachers who are fighting for higher wages and reduced classroom sizes. The Alberta government and the Alberta Teachers' Association say both parties remain at the table trying to hammer out a new collective bargaining agreement ahead of the Oct. 6 strike deadline teachers have set. Nyla Ahmadzai, one of the rally's organ
dosanjh-expresses-happiness-on-canadas-medal-haul-at-world-championship-praises-jasneet-nijjars-performance
BCSep 22, 2025

Coach Dosanjh expresses happiness on Canada's medal haul at World championship, praises Jasneet Nijjar's performance

Canada has achieved another success at the World Athletics Championships. Canadian sprinters won the silver medal in the men's 4x100-meter relay. In the event final, Aaron Brown, Jerome Blake, Brandon Rodney and Andre de Grasse performed brilliantly, winning the silver medal in the event with their season's best timing of 37.55 seconds. In the same event, the American team won the gold medal with a timing of 37.29 seconds and the Netherlands team won the bronze medal with a timing of 37.81 seconds. Meanwhile, Marco Arop won the bronze medal for Canada in the men's 800-meter event over the wee
b-c-public-workers-strike-expands-to-liquor-cannabis-distribution-warehouses
BCSep 22, 2025

B.C. public workers' strike expands to liquor, cannabis distribution warehouses

Liquor and cannabis warehouses in British Columbia are now behind picket lines as public sector workers step up job action to try to pressure the government back to the bargaining table. The BC General Employees' Union says workers at the Liquor Distribution Branch's headquarters in Burnaby as well as warehouses in Delta, Richmond and Kamloops are now on strike. The union has also added five new provincial ministry work sites in Vancouver and Victoria to the strike list, putting the total number of active picket lines across B.C. to 28. The job action in its fourth week now involves more than
premiers-statement-on-navratri
BCSep 22, 2025

Premier’s statement on Navratri

Premier David Eby has issued the following statement marking Navratri: “Tonight, Hindu communities in British Columbia will join others around the world in celebrating the beginning of the festival of Navratri. “For the next nine nights, families, friends and loved ones will gather to pray to the nine manifestations of the divine feminine and perform the traditional garba dance to celebrate the victory of good over evil and of light over darkness. It is also a time for spiritual renewal.“Hindu Canadians have made many positive contributions to British Columbia and Canada. We all benefit

Related News