The British Columbia Human Rights Code applies to all businesses, agencies and services in B.C. except those regulated by the federal government. All people are protected from discrimination at work, in a store or restaurant, in a residential tenancy or in accessing services customarily available to the public on the basis of what are called “protected characteristics”. These include age, race, sex, ancestry, colour, family status, religion or religious belief, gender identity or expression, mental or physical disability, Indigenous identity, political belief and sexual orientation. In the area of tenancy discrimination on the basis of source of income is also prohibited.