The Nova Scotia Human Rights Act protects against discrimination connected to irrational fear of contracting an illness or disease. The Commission explains that the protection was added in response to discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS but can apply to other transmissible illnesses.
Sources checked September 29, 2026.
What the characteristic addresses
The protection concerns unjustifiable negative treatment based on fear of contracting an illness or disease. The reasonableness of health and safety measures and the evidence supporting them can be important.
Not every health precaution is discrimination
Legitimate, evidence-based public-health or safety requirements are different from irrational fear. The legal analysis should distinguish objective risk management from stigma or unsupported assumptions.
Employment, housing and services
The characteristic can operate across the prohibited areas of the Act, including workplaces, housing and services.
Disability can also be relevant
Some health conditions may also engage physical or mental disability protections. The applicable characteristics depend on the facts and should not be assumed to be mutually exclusive.
Official sources
- Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission — Inquiry Form and intake criteria
- Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission — protected characteristics and prohibited areas
- Nova Scotia Legislature — Human Rights Act