Whether delivered by phone, email, or in person to the office of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission, all complaints are directed to an Intake Consultant. The intake process can be a first step towards formalizing a complaint, an opportunity for a complainant to receive information, or a business or organization to ask questions of a general nature.
The Intake Process
The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission has a standard intake process designed to ensure that all inquiries are handled fairly, efficiently, and in accordance with The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, 2018.
Each step builds on the one before it, moving from general information-gathering to a more focused assessment of the issue. In some cases, the matter can be resolved early. In others, a formal complaint may be filed and referred to mediation. At every stage, the goal is to support respectful, fair, and effective resolution.
Step 1: Initial Contact
Reception staff will ask a few questions to understand your situation and direct your inquiry to the right person.
Step 2: Talking with an Intake Consultant
An Intake Consultant will listen to your story and ask questions to see if your situation might involve a violation of The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code. They will consider things like:
- Whether the Commission has the legal authority (jurisdiction) to deal with your issue
- If the complaint is within the one-year time limit
- Whether the issue involves protected grounds (like race, disability, or gender) and occurred in a Code-protected area (such as in employment, public services, or housing).
If your issue would be better handled by another agency, the Intake Consultant may refer you there. They will always try to give accurate information as quickly as possible, though they may need time to research or consult with legal staff.
Step 3: Filling Out the Intake Questionnaire
In most cases, you’ll be asked to complete an intake questionnaire, either online or on paper. The questionnaire collects your contact details, a description of what happened, and how you think the issue could be resolved.
Step 4: Starting a Case File
Once the questionnaire is submitted, a case file is opened and assigned to an Intake Consultant. This person will be your main contact in the early stages. They may ask for documents to support your complaint—for example:
- Medical records (for disability-related complaints)
- Pay stubs, a Record of Employment, or performance reviews (for workplace complaints)
Step 5: Early Assessment
After reviewing your information, the Deputy Director of Resolution decides whether there are reasonable grounds to believe the Code may have been violated.
- If no reasonable grounds are found, you’ll get a letter explaining that the complaint won’t move forward. You’ll have two weeks to provide any new evidence.
- If reasonable grounds do exist, the Intake Consultant will draft a formal complaint using your information.
Step 6: Finalizing the Complaint
You’ll review the formal complaint to make sure everything is correct. Once you sign it, the Commission sends it to the Respondent (the person or organization you’re complaining about). They usually have two weeks to respond, though they may ask for more time to get legal advice.
Step 7: Moving to Mediation
Once the Respondent replies, a copy of their response is sent to you. The file then moves to the Director of Resolution, who assigns it to a staff mediator to begin the mediation process.
You can withdraw your complaint at any point. If you do, the Commission will close the file.
* This summary offers a brief overview of the intake process and it may not be applicable in all situations.