Can I report discrimination on behalf of my friend if they don't want to?

Under the Canadian Human Rights Act, you are allowed to file a complaint if you have "reasonable grounds for believing that a person is engaging or has engaged in a discriminatory practice" [cite:ca-human-rights-act-sec40]. This means because you witnessed the manager's comments about your friend's prayer schedule and saw her pay cheque being docked, you may have the grounds to act. However, there is a significant hurdle regarding your friend's wishes. The law states, "If a complaint is made by someone other than the individual who is alleged to be the victim... the Commission may refuse to deal with the complaint unless the alleged victim consents thereto" [cite:ca-human-rights-act-sec40]. In plain language, a 'victim' is the person who suffered the unfair treatment. Because your friend is the one who was treated unfairly due to her religious beliefs, the Commission has the power to ignore your report if she does not give her formal permission for them to proceed. There is another way for the government to act. The Commission also has the power to start its own investigation if it finds it has "reasonable grounds for believing that a person is engaging or has engaged in a discriminatory practice" [cite:ca-human-rights-act-sec40]. This is an independent process started by the Commission itself rather than by a person filing a complaint. It is also important to note that the law protects people from being punished for speaking up. It is a discriminatory practice for an employer to "retaliate or threaten retaliation against the individual who filed the complaint or the alleged victim" [cite:ca-human-rights-act-sec14p1]. This means if a formal complaint were to move forward, the manager or company cannot legally punish your friend for it. Whether the Commission will actually investigate your specific report without her consent is unsettled, as it depends on whether they decide to initiate their own investigation independently or if they choose to exercise their right to refuse your specific complaint due to her lack of consent.