The BC Human Rights Tribunal plays a vital role in safeguarding human rights within British Columbia. It acts as a crucial arbiter in matters where citizens face discrimination or violations of their fundamental rights. Unfortunately, the tribunal is currently facing significant backlog issues and delayed processing times. These delays can cause significant distress and exacerbate the hardships faced by complainants who are seeking justice and an end to discriminatory practices.

The average time to decide whether to process a case is over 12 months.  After that, decisions on applications to dismiss take 2 to 2.5 years.  Applications for disclosure take 6 months.  Hearings take years to schedule.  For someone who has a human rights complaint the typical timeline is:

Year 1-2: complaint is being screened

Year 3-4: decisions about applications to dismiss

Year 4 to 6: hearing scheduled

Year 7+: hearing decisions written

Increasing funding to the BC Human Rights Tribunal is not just an investment in a faster process. It's an investment in justice, equality, and the upholding of human rights for everyone in British Columbia. With additional financial resources, the tribunal can hire more staff, implement more efficient processes, and expand its capacity to handle cases in a timely manner.

British Columbia is recognized for its diverse and inclusive communities, and it's essential that our institutions mirror these values by functioning optimally and without delay. By supporting this petition, we can urge the British Columbia government to allocate additional funding to the BC Human Rights Tribunal, thereby speeding up case processing times and reinforcing the tribunal’s ability to serve justice effectively.

Your signature can make a vital difference. Please sign this petition to demand increased funding for the BC Human Rights Tribunal and help ensure that justice is timely and accessible for all citizens of British Columbia.