The Chief Judge of the Provincial Court appoints generally one person to sit as a board of inquiry when asked to do so by the Commissioners. The person who conducts the board of inquiry, called the chair, must have a law degree. The Chief Judge picks the board chair from a panel of lawyers established by the Commission. At a board, which is a formal hearing, the complainant and witnesses are called to testify and other evidence is presented. Only a board of inquiry can decide if discrimination has taken place.
Boards of inquiry can award financial compensation or remedies such as letters of apology.
Many human rights complaints settle before they reach the board of inquiry stage. See Guide to the Complaint Process for more information. Since December 1998, the Human Rights Commission has had the power to enforce payment of financial compensation when such compensation has been ordered by a board of inquiry. If compensation is unpaid, the Commission has the board of inquiry order registered with the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. The enforcement process of the Supreme Court then can be used to help collect the financial compensation owed to a victim of discrimination.