Phrase of the Week | Family Status

Family Status

“Family status” is defined in the [Human Rights Act, R.S.N.S. 1989, c. 214], s. 3(h) as “the status of being in a parent-child relationship” ... that this concept in the Nova Scotia Act includes the way the parent and child came to be in their relationship: whether by birth, adoption placement, foster placement, guardianship, voluntary role acceptance, or even by attachment. However, as the language of the Act states, “family status” implies a larger, more active and dynamic quality than its mere origination.

(Adekayode v. Halifax (Regional Municipality) (2015), 81 C.H.R.R. D/257, 2015 C.L.L.C. 230-025, 2015 CarswellNS 580 (N.S. Human Rights Comm.) at para. 17 Murray (Member))