A Human Rights Specialist investigates the complaint if the parties choose not to go to mediation or were unable to resolve the complaint in mediation. The Respondent gets a chance to reply to the complaint and tell their side of the story. The Complainant can then address any new points raised by the Respondent. The Human Rights Specialist gathers documents or other information from the parties and may interview witnesses. The parties get to respond to the investigation once it is completed.
The investigation is always thorough, neutral, and unbiased. The type of investigation depends on the facts of the complaint and what is reasonable in the circumstances. The Human Rights Specialist will try to finish the investigation quickly. The actual time, however, will vary according to the complexities of the complaint, Commission caseloads, and other factors.