It is empowered under the Canadian Human Rights Act to investigate and to try to settle complaints of discrimination in employment and in the provision of services within federal jurisdiction.

That occurs when the Commission feels that the complaint deals with a matter of public interest, which includes decisions that have the potential to clarify, influence, shape, or define human rights law in Canada.

Under the Employment Equity Act, the Commission promotes equality in the workplace for the four designated groups: women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities, and members of visible minorities.

[1][2] While the Employment Equity Act uses the language "visible minorities", in its 2022 annual report, the Commission stated that in its opinion, this is an "antiquated term".

[8] On the basis of a recommendation from Virani in June 2024 the federal Cabinet appointed a Muslim and a person of colour Birju Dattani to serve as Chief Commissioner, a post that had been vacant for more than 18 months.

In 2015 Dattani had shared the stage while in the UK with members of the Islamic fundamentalist Hizb-ut-tahrir group, "that seeks to establish a new caliphate" under sharia law "and opposes Israel's existence."

The PMO had neither seen nor heard of the complaint, while a Liberal Member of Parliament, Marco Mendicino said that "there are significant deficiencies" in the hiring process.

He continued: "A rigorous vetting process is required so that the public can have the utmost confidence in the chair and the CHRC as a protectorate of human rights in our democracy.