Who may file an application with the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal?

• A. A person who experienced discrimination or their representative
• B. Any member of the public
• C. Only the employer
• D. Only a lawyer

Answer: (A)

The essential idea is who has the right to start a discrimination claim with the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal. An application can be filed by the person who experienced discrimination, or by someone who has written authorization to act for that person as a representative. That representative can be a lawyer, but it can also be another advocate such as a family member, friend, or union representative who has permission to file on the claimant’s behalf. This setup ensures the person who was harmed has a way to pursue the claim even if they can’t file themselves.

Why the other possibilities don’t fit: filing is not open to just any member of the public; they must have a direct interest or represent the claimant with authorization. The employer is typically the respondent in discrimination cases, not the filer. And while a lawyer can file on the claimant’s behalf, it isn’t required to be a lawyer—a non-lawyer representative with proper authorization can also file.