Frequently asked questions

Complaints

• Complaint Form | Can I save my form part way through and finish it later?

  No, you must complete the entire form in one session. If you close the form before submitting it, your information will be lost and you will have to start again.

  Your information will only be sent to the Commission once you have finished filling in the form and clicked “Submit”.

• Complaint Form | I forgot to attach some documents to my form before I submitted it. How can I add them?

  You can send these documents later, directly to the person who takes charge of your file. When this person contacts you, they will ask for all documents that support your complaint. 

  We strongly advise against using new complaint form to add documents. Doing so may slow down processing of your complaint.

• Complaint Form | How can I tell if my form was submitted to the Commission?

  After you submit your form, you will receive an email confirming that we have received it.

  To receive this confirmation email, make sure you:

  • enter a valid email address on the form
  • click “Submit” when you are finished

• Complaint Form | How can I get a copy of my form?

  We can email you a PDF copy of your complaint form.

  You will need to provide:

  • your first and last name
  • your email address
  • your form number (included in the confirmation email you received)

  Contact our reception service at plainte@cdpdj.qc.ca to request a copy of your form.

• Complaint Form | Can I use the online complaint form to complain about the services I received from the Commission?

  No, you must use the Quality of Service Feedback Form to let us know about your dissatisfaction with our services.  

  Learn more about our service quality policy

  
  

  The online complaint form is only for:

  1. complaints of discrimination or harassment, 
  2. complaints or reports of exploitation, 
  3. requests for investigation in youth protection matters, and 
  4. complaints of reprisals. 

  
  

• Should I file a complaint, submit a report or request intervention?

  File a complaint

  • if you have experienced discrimination or harassment. If you are an organization, you can file a complaint on behalf of an individual or group that you represent
  • if you have experienced exploitation (Note: exploitation applies only to elderly people and people with disabilities).

  Submit a report

  • if you know an elderly person or a person with a disability who has experienced exploitation.

  The process is the same for filing complaints and submitting reports. In both cases, all information you provide to the Commission will remain confidential.

  File a complaint of discrimination or harassment

  File a complaint or submit a report of exploitation

   Request investigation

  • to enforce the rights of a young person under the care of the Director of Youth Protection (DYP) or other youth protection services.

  Request investigation

  Submit a report to the DYP 

  • if a child is being abused or is experiencing a situation that affects their health or development.

  The DYP is the organization that receives these reports and which can intervene to protect the child.

  Submit a report to the DYP
  

• Can I file a complaint by phone?

  No, all complaints must be filed in writing, using the online complaint form.

  If you are having trouble filling out the form, we can talk with you on the phone to help you complete it and to answer your questions. In certain special cases, we may also be able to offer you alternative ways of filing a complaint.

  Contact us: 
  1 800 3616477
  plainte@cdpdj.qc.ca

• What is the deadline for filing a complaint with the Commission?

  The deadline depends on the reason for the complaint. In general, we advise you to file your complaint as soon as possible.

  Complaints of discrimination or harassment

  • No later than 3 years after the fact
  • No later than 6 months after the fact if the situation involves a municipality or the police

  The Commission may decide not to process a complaint if the most recent events occurred more than two years ago (in keeping with section 77 of the Charter).

  Complaints of exploitation

  You have up to 3 years after becoming aware of a situation to report it or file a complaint.

  The only exception is if the victim’s physical or psychological condition prevents them from doing so. It is then said that it was ‘impossible for the victim to act’ and the deadline may be extended.

  Requests for investigation (Youth protection)

  You may request an investigation at any time after the fact. There is no deadline (also known as a limitation period) for asking the Commission to intervene.

• How long will it take to process my complaint or request for investigation?

  In youth protection cases (request for investigation)

  We will make every effort to process your request for investigation within an average of 6 months.

  See the request for investigation process

  
  

  For discrimination, harassment or exploitation (complaint)

  We will make every effort to process your complaint within an average of 15 months. We handle all complaints in the same way, but the processing time of each complaint depends on the complexity of the case. Some cases can also be resolved more quickly through mediation.

  See the Charter complaint process

  Staff members explain the request for investigation process

  Staff members explain the handling of a complaint for discrimination or harassment

  Staff members explain the handling of a complaint for exploitation

• Can I file a complaint from outside Québec?

   Yes, you can, if the situation you experienced or wish to report took place in Québec.

• Why did the Commission tell me that it cannot accept my complaint or that it is closing my file?

  When you file a complaint of discrimination, harassment or exploitation with the Commission, we may refuse to process it. Sometimes, even if we have opened a file, we may contact you to tell you that we have stopped processing your complaint. The different reasons for refusing a complaint or ceasing to act on one are set out in the Québec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms.

  Learn more about Why the Commission would refuse or cease to act on a complaint.

• The Commission has closed my complaint about discriminatory language. What can I do now?

  If we have closed your complaint, you may be able to take your case to a different legal authority. Every situation is different. A civil rights lawyer can analyze your specific situation to determine whether it can be brought to court.

  The limitation period is suspended from the time you file a complaint with the Commission until the moment you are notified that your file was closed. This means that the time during which your file was open with the Commission does not count toward your deadline for taking civil action for that situation. Your deadline for taking a different form of legal action therefore depends on how much time passed between the date when the situation occurred and the date when you filed your complaint with the Commission.

  For more information : CDPDJ clarifies its new jurisdiction to investigate complaints related to alleged discriminatory remarks Impacts of the Supreme Court decision in the Mike Ward case

  
  

• Can a person under the age of 18 file a complaint without their parents’ consent?

  Yes.

  For a request for investigation to protect young people in case of a violation of rights, parents do not have to sign or be informed in order for the Commission to intervene. We encourage young people to contact us directly to find out about their rights.

  Learn more on requesting investigation

  For complaints of discrimination or harassment, however, it is preferable that at least one parent sign. The Commission cannot initiate any legal proceedings without the parents’ signature.

  Learn more about filing a complaints