N.B. news: Commission sees rise in discrimination allegations [Video]

Landlords must respect the human rights of all persons.

That’s the title to a news release issued by the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission Monday following a rise in allegations of discriminatory practices in the province’s rental housing market.

The commission is reminding landlords and other housing providers discrimination based on any of the 16 protected grounds under the New Brunswick Human Rights Act — which include race, colour, ancestry or social condition — is illegal.

The commission notes in particular numerous alleged instances of housing discrimination because of family status, most notably for those with children.

Tobin LeBlanc Haley, co-founder of the New Brunswick Coalition for Tenants Rights, said she experienced that kind of discrimination firsthand when she and her partner moved back to the province in 2019. Haley figured finding a place to rent would be easy and never guessed her young child would cause any issues.

“This particular landlord told me you can’t rent in X building, you have to rent in …