Profiling
The forms of discriminatory profiling that we hear the most about in Québec are:
- racial profiling (based on perceived ‘race’ and/or ‘colour’)
- social profiling (based on perceived ‘social condition’, like being unhoused)
What are the prohibited grounds for discrimination?
How to identify discriminatory profiling
Discriminatory profiling is when:
1. A person in a position of authority:
- intervenes in the name of safety, security or public protection,
- treats or questions a person differently
- on the basis of a Charter-prohibited ground of discrimination
- without just cause or reasonable suspicion
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EXAMPLE: A security guard checks the purchases of Black or Latin American customers only. |
2. The law is disproportionately applied to a certain segment of the population (a social group).
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EXAMPLE: The unhoused members of a municipality receive more tickets for ‘misuse of urban furniture’ than housed people do. |
The Commission and racial profiling
The Commission began accepting complaints of racial profiling in 2003, and has been a Québec pioneer in raising awareness about racial profiling as a form of discrimination.
Do you believe you’ve experienced profiling?
Find out whether you can file a complaint.
If the racial profiling incident involved a municipality or the police, it is important to file a complaint as soon as possible: you have 6 months after the fact to do so.