Protection against reprisal

Provisions are in force to protect people against reprisal who file a complaint or make a report, cooperate in the processing of a report or complaint, or accompany a person who makes a report or files a complaint. It is also prohibited to threaten to retaliate against a person in order to dissuade him or her from filing a complaint or making a report.

The following are presumed to be reprisal measures against students or their parents who have filed a complaint or made a report:

• Depriving them of rights
• Treating them differently
• Suspending or expelling a student

For the staff members of an educational institution who cooperate in the examination of a complaint or report, the following are presumed to be reprisal measures:

• Their demotion
• Their suspension
• Termination of their employment
• Their transfer
• Disciplinary sanctions or other measures that adversely affect their employment or working conditions.

Reprisal complaints are processed by the National Student Ombudsman.

Fines for a natural person who retaliates or threatens to retaliate range from $2,000 to $20,000. Fines can vary from $10,000 to $250,000 for legal persons.