Discrimination must happen in a protected area to come under the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act. The protected areas outlined in the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act include:
- Employment and volunteer situations;
- Access to services (i.e., shopping at a store or attending school, electricity, haircut, and others);
- The purchase and sale of property;
- Provision of accommodation (i.e., renting an apartment); and,
- Membership in professional organizations.
Examples of discrimination based on a protected characteristic in a protected area:
- Rental Accommodations: An owner refuses your application to rent an apartment after finding out you have sight loss (i.e., cancelling viewings, refusing to schedule a viewing)
- Transportation: You are unable to access scheduling and bus route information, a bus driver fails to announce stops, etc.
- Education: You were unable to attend a particular school because you have a physical disability for which the school is not accessible or fails to attempt to accommodate you.
- Healthcare: You were unable to access a service because you needed to complete a written application
- Employment: You were denied a promotion because you have a physical disability.
If you are unsure whether your complaint falls under the Nova Scotia Human Rights Act or if what you are experiencing is discrimination, you can contact the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission.