George N. Carter

The complainant, a single mother receiving Mother's Allowance, signed a lease for an apartment and provided a post-dated cheque.

The property management company returned the cheque, stating they did not accept post-dated cheques and would not accept applications from persons on Mother's Allowance unless their caseworker ensured direct payment of rent.

The complainant subsequently died, and her executrix continued the human rights complaint.

The Board of Inquiry found that the direct payment requirement was a flagrant and willful discrimination based on the receipt of public assistance, contrary to section 2(1) of the Human Rights Code.

The respondents were ordered to pay $1,750 in special damages and $2,500 in general damages, and to cease requiring direct payment of rent from persons receiving public assistance.

The complainant alleged sexual harassment and sexual solicitation by the owner of the respondent cleaning company.

The Board of Inquiry found that the owner engaged in a course of vexatious physical and verbal conduct of a sexual nature, creating a poisoned work environment that caused the complainant to quit.

While the Board dismissed the allegation of sexual solicitation, finding the owner's conduct amounted to inappropriate joking rather than genuine advances, it upheld the sexual harassment complaint.

The respondents were ordered to pay $1,500 in general damages for mental anguish and infringement of rights, and $2,700 in special damages for eight weeks of lost wages.

The complainant, a devout Catholic, worked as a bartender and was not required to work on Sundays.

A new owner took over the business and scheduled the complainant to work on Sundays.

When the complainant refused due to his religious convictions, his employment was terminated.

The Board of Inquiry found that the employer discriminated against the complainant on the basis of creed and failed to accommodate him to the point of undue hardship.

The complainant was awarded $7,250 for lost wages, $4,000 for mental anguish, and $4,000 in punitive damages.