Discrimination In Canada

The Canadian Human Rights Act, as expected, does not condone discrimination relating to pregnancy. This is according to the Canadian Commission's official policy statement. Discrimination against pregnant women is considered to be a form of sex discrimination, since only women can become pregnant. Areas of discriminatory practices against pregnant women covered by this policy include: negative treatment, refusal to hire or promote, termination of employment, and harassment. Unfortunately, in Canada, like many other countries, many women who become pregnant are criticized when it comes to their place in society. Whether it’s breastfeeding or taking more trips to the restroom while on the job or the need to take maternity leave, women have undergone harassment just because they are carrying a fetus in their womb.

In the Province of Ontario, Canada, the Ontario’s Employment Standards Act, have their own set of legislation concerning pregnancy. The Act prohibits the discrimination of mothers who are breastfeeding in public places such as theaters, restaurants, and parks to name a few. By law, no one is permitted to tell her that she must go to a private area to feed her infant. According to the British Columbia Human Rights Coalition, the number of pregnancy discrimination complaints increased by 50% in the 2010-2011 period compared to the previous year. And in April 2009, the Human Rights Commission in Alberta, Canada received a total of 2,138 complaints, of which 532 of them were pregnancy related. Research has shown an increase in pregnancy related discrimination throughout Canada.