Free Legal Help in Canada

Where to get free, official help in Canada — the federal labour, privacy, immigration, human-rights, anti-fraud and tax bodies, plus the police-complaints and banking ombudsmen. Employment, tenancy and health are largely provincial, so each entry points you to the provincial equivalent too.

In immediate danger? Dial 911.

Work & employment

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Employment Standards / ESDC Labour Program

Government

Unpaid wages, termination and workplace rights. Federally-regulated workers use the federal Labour Program; everyone else uses their province's Employment Standards office.

Legal basis Canada Labour Code (federal) and provincial Employment Standards Acts

How to reach File with your province's Employment Standards office (Ontario, BC, Alberta, etc.), or the federal Labour Program if federally regulated. Discrimination goes to the Canadian or provincial Human Rights Commission.

Online: www.canada.ca/en/services/jobs/workplace.html
Languages: English, French
Cost: Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Housing & tenancy

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Provincial Residential Tenancy Board

Tribunal

Provincial/territorial tenancy tribunals (e.g., Ontario LTB, BC RTB)

Tenancy is provincial: rent, deposits, repairs and eviction are decided by your province's tenancy board — Ontario's Landlord and Tenant Board, BC's Residential Tenancy Branch, Alberta's RTDRS and equivalents elsewhere.

Legal basis Provincial/territorial Residential Tenancies Acts

How to reach File a tenancy dispute with your province's board (Ontario LTB, BC RTB, Alberta RTDRS, etc.) — most charge a low fee and give free information; CMHC has federal renting guidance. Keep your lease and photos.

Online: www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca
Languages: English, French
Cost: Low fee

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Consumer & shopping

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OBSI

Ombudsman

Ombudsman for Banking Services and Investments

Free, independent resolution of disputes with banks and investment firms — unauthorised transactions, fraud, unsuitable advice — after the firm's own process.

Legal basis Federal financial-consumer framework (FCAC)

How to reach Complain to the firm first and get its final response; if unresolved, bring it free to OBSI. Broader banking-conduct issues go to the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada (FCAC).

Online: www.obsi.ca
Languages: English, French
Cost: Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

Government

Income tax and benefits, filing, refunds and disputes; you can object to an assessment and the Taxpayers' Ombudsperson handles service complaints.

Legal basis Income Tax Act

How to reach Manage tax and benefits in CRA My Account; file a Notice of Objection to dispute an assessment, and escalate service issues to the Taxpayers' Ombudsperson.

Online: www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency.html
Languages: English, French
Cost: Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Scams, fraud & money recovery

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Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC)

Government

National centre for reporting fraud and identity theft; the FBI-equivalent RCMP and your local police investigate.

Legal basis Criminal Code of Canada

How to reach Report to the CAFC (1-888-495-8501) and your local police, and contact your bank immediately. For identity theft, the CAFC and credit bureaus can flag your file.

Call: 1-888-495-8501
Online: antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca
Languages: English, French
Cost: Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Data privacy & digital

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Office of the Privacy Commissioner (OPC)

Government

Complaints about how private companies handle your personal data under PIPEDA; Quebec (CAI, Law 25), BC and Alberta have their own commissioners.

Legal basis PIPEDA and the Privacy Act

How to reach Ask the organisation to fix or delete your data first; if unresolved, complain to the OPC, or to your provincial commissioner in Quebec, BC or Alberta.

Online: www.priv.gc.ca
Languages: English, French
Cost: Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Police & criminal justice

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Civilian Review & Complaints Commission (RCMP)

Ombudsman

Independent complaints about RCMP conduct; provinces with their own police forces have their own oversight bodies (e.g., Ontario's OIPRD/LECA, BC's OPCC).

Legal basis Royal Canadian Mounted Police Act

How to reach File a complaint about RCMP conduct with the CRCC; for a municipal/provincial force, use that province's police-complaints body.

Online: www.crcc-ccetp.gc.ca/en/make-a-complaint
Languages: English, French
Cost: Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Immigration & residency

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IRCC

Government

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Permanent residence, work and study permits, citizenship and refugee claims; appeals go to the Immigration and Refugee Board.

Legal basis Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)

How to reach Apply for and track status through your IRCC secure account; get free help from a settlement agency, and never pay an unlicensed 'consultant'.

Online: www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship.html
Languages: English, French
Cost: Low fee

Who it's for: Immigrants, workers, students and refugees.

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Family

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Department of Justice — Family Law

Government

Divorce, parenting and child/spousal support; cases are filed in provincial/territorial or the federal family courts, and provinces run family-justice services.

Legal basis Divorce Act and provincial family law

How to reach Use the federal Child Support Guidelines and Family Law information; file in your provincial family court and access provincial family-justice and mediation services.

Online: www.justice.gc.ca/eng/fl-df
Languages: English, French
Cost: Low fee

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

Healthcare

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Provincial health / Patient Ombudsman

Government

Healthcare is provincial: complaints about a hospital or clinic go to the provincial health ministry or patient ombudsman, and a doctor's conduct to the provincial College of Physicians.

Legal basis Canada Health Act and provincial health legislation

How to reach Raise a concern with the facility first, then your province's patient ombudsman or health ministry; report a doctor to the provincial College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Online: www.canada.ca/en/health-canada.html
Languages: English, French
Cost: Free

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

General help & advocacy

Canadian Human Rights Commission

Government

Discrimination in federally-regulated work and services; provincial human-rights commissions cover everything else (most workplaces, housing, services).

Legal basis Canadian Human Rights Act

How to reach File a complaint with the CHRC for a federally-regulated matter, or your provincial human-rights commission (Ontario, BC, Alberta, etc.) for the rest.

Online: www.chrc-ccdp.gc.ca/en/complaints
Languages: English, French
Cost: Free

Who it's for: Anyone facing discrimination.

Verified 2026-07-05 · official source

This is legal information, not legal advice — a directory of official, free channels, not an endorsement. Hotlines and links can change; each entry shows the date we last verified it. If a number or page no longer works, tell us on the contact form.