Under s. 13 of the Code, which ground may an employer NOT use to refuse a job?
BC Private Investigator overview
BC Private Investigator: Human rights, the Charter and young persons
B.C. Human Rights Code grounds in services and employment, the code of conduct's equality duty, the Charter, the Youth Criminal Justice Act's age definitions and declaration of principle, the publication ban, and interviewing people under 18.
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Study reference: B.C. private investigator law and public guidance (Oct 2026), Ch. 7 Human rights and youth — Human Rights Code ss. 1, 8, 13; Charter; Youth Criminal Justice Act ss. 2, 3, 110
All 12 questions in this test
Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.
Under s. 13 of the Code, which ground may an employer NOT use to refuse a job?
- A criminal conviction unrelated to the job
- Failing a job-related skills test
- Missing the application deadline
- Lack of a required licence for the job
A PI learns a youth was dealt with under the YCJA. May the PI's report be published naming the youth?
- Yes, if the offence was minor
- Yes, once the youth turns 16
- Yes, if the client consents and the youth is over 16 years old
- No, identifying the youth is generally banned
To whom does the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms directly apply?
- Only federal police forces
- Parliament, legislatures and governments
- Every private business and every person in Canada
- Only courts and judges
Who may publish that a person was dealt with under the YCJA once they turn 18?
- Any news outlet that asks the court
- The PI's client, with a lawyer's letter
- The person themselves, if not in custody
- The victim, without any limits
What does the YCJA's declaration of principle say about parents?
- They decide whether the youth is charged
- They must pay every fine the youth receives and attend every hearing
- They should be informed and encouraged to support their child
- They are excluded from youth proceedings
What does industry practice suggest before a PI interviews a 16-year-old witness?
- Get a parent's permission and allow them to attend
- Interview the youth alone, so that they will speak more freely
- Record secretly to save time
- Ask the school principal for consent
Under B.C.'s Human Rights Code, 'age' as a protected ground means what?
- 16 years or older
- 19 years or older
- Any age from birth
- 65 years or older
Under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, who is a young person?
- Someone aged 14 to 19
- Someone under 21
- Someone under 12
- Someone aged 12 to 17
Which is a protected ground for services under B.C.'s Human Rights Code?
- Credit score
- Political party membership
- Place of origin
- Choice of profession
Which is one stated aim of the youth justice system under s. 3 of the YCJA?
- Publishing young people's names to warn the public about them
- Promoting rehabilitation and reintegration
- Holding youth to adult sentences
- Avoiding any role for families
According to the YCJA's declaration of principle, on what is the youth justice system based?
- Reduced moral blameworthiness, in a separate system
- Maximum sentences to deter others
- The same rules as the adult system
- Punishment by parents at home instead of any court process
A PI treats interview subjects of one religion with more suspicion. Which rule is broken?
- The ban on wearing a uniform during PI work
- The rule that the licence must be carried at all times while working
- The code of conduct duty to treat all persons equally
- The duty to report a change of address
Human rights, the Charter and young persons: key rules to remember
Our summary of what the official handbook says on this topic, in our own words. Read it before or after the practice questions above, then check the original chapter. Read the official chapter ↗
Human Rights Code, RSBC 1996 c. 210, ss. 1, 8, 13
- No denial of, or discrimination in, services customarily available to the public without bona fide and reasonable justification, on grounds including Indigenous identity, race, colour, ancestry, place of origin, religion, marital and family status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and age (19 or older).
- Employment discrimination on the same kinds of grounds (and criminal conviction unrelated to the job) is also prohibited (s. 13).
Code of conduct
- Licensees must treat all persons equally without discrimination on listed grounds.
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms ss. 2, 7–15, 32
- The Charter protects fundamental freedoms, legal rights (life, liberty and security; search and seizure; detention; counsel) and equality rights, and applies to government; evidence collected by private parties can still be scrutinized by courts.
Ages
- A young person is 12 or older but under 18 (or appears to be, absent evidence otherwise); a child is under 12.
Declaration of principle
- The youth system protects the public by holding young persons accountable in proportion to the offence, promoting rehabilitation and reintegration, and supporting crime prevention.
- It is separate from the adult system and based on reduced moral blameworthiness, with enhanced procedural protection including privacy, and timely intervention.
- Measures should reinforce respect for societal values, encourage repair of harm, involve family and community, and respect differences; victims are treated with courtesy; parents are informed and encouraged to support their children.
- The Act is liberally construed to give effect to these principles.
Publication ban
- No one may publish the name of a young person, or information that would identify them, as having been dealt with under the Act, with limited exceptions (e.g. an adult sentence).
- After turning 18, a young person may publish their own information if not in custody.
Interviewing youth (general practice)
- Industry practice: contact parents or guardians for permission before interviewing a person under 18, and allow them to be present.
Study the Human rights, the Charter and young persons rules as flashcards →
Other topics
- Who needs a B.C. PI licence and how to get oneThe Security Services Act definition of a private investigator, who is exempt (lawyers, journalists, insurance adjusters, pre-employment screening), the PI and PI-under-supervision licences, the PSKN Introduction to Private Investigation course and exam, the 2,000-hour and police-experience routes, and out-of-province investigators.
- Licence rules, conduct and PI businessesCarrying and showing your licence, 14-day reporting, no uniform and no badge, the banned words detective and police, the B.C. code of conduct, business licences, insurance and records, enforcement and penalties, and why bug sweeping needs a security consultant licence.
- Courts, burden of proof and testifyingThe levels of Canadian and B.C. courts, the Civil Resolution Tribunal and Small Claims Court limits, criminal and civil burdens of proof, subpoenas, oaths, direct and cross-examination, and what counts as a crime for licensing.
- Arrest, force and criminal harassmentWhy a PI has only a citizen's powers, arrest without warrant under section 494, delivery to police, use of force under sections 25 to 27, 34 and 35, Charter rights, and how surveillance can cross into criminal harassment under section 264.
- B.C. PIPA: consent, investigations and public sourcesHow B.C.'s Personal Information Protection Act applies to PI firms: consent and deceptive practices, the investigation exception, prescribed publicly available sources, access requests, safeguards and retention, and restricted records.
- Privacy Act, recording and surveillance limitsB.C.'s statutory tort of violation of privacy, its exceptions, eavesdropping and surveillance, use of a name or portrait, one-party consent to record under Criminal Code section 184, filming from public places, GPS trackers and criminal harassment.
- Mandate, surveillance and undercover workSetting a justifiable mandate, preparing for surveillance, standard equipment, obeying traffic law, detecting counter-surveillance, solo and team methods, subjects with lawyers, and the rules of undercover operations.
- Interviews, statements and reportsPreparing and conducting interviews, recording only with a party's consent, the parts of a written witness statement, corrections and initials, voluntariness, objective reports, correcting notes, and using notes in court.
- Evidence handling and information sourcesThe six steps for containing evidence, chain of custody, protecting original video, business and electronic records under the Canada Evidence Act, and lawful research sources such as directories, registries, PPSR and court files.
- Technology, countermeasures and safetyTechnical surveillance countermeasures and the security consultant licence, interception and computer-system rules, wireless cameras and GPS, authenticating electronic files, insurance, and WorkSafeBC rules for lone and at-risk work.