Reprisals are the worst. The government passes laws that give you rights, and they give you government agencies to help enforce those rights. But the enemies of those rights often act recklessly and aggressively towards those who simply demand their government granted rights.
Governments realized this and there are many laws that make reprisals illegal.
Reprisal: a retaliatory act
I’ll provide some examples.
Canadian Human Rights Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. H-6)
Retaliation
14.1 It is a discriminatory practice for a person against whom a complaint has been filed under Part III, or any person acting on their behalf, to retaliate or threaten retaliation against the individual who filed the complaint or the alleged victim.
Human Rights Code, R.S.O. 1990, c. H.19
Reprisals
(8) Every person has a right to claim and enforce his or her rights under this Act, to institute and participate in proceedings under this Act and to refuse to infringe a right of another person under this Act, without reprisal or threat of reprisal for so doing.
Employment Standards Act, 2000, S.O. 2000, c. 41
Reprisal prohibited
74 (1) No employer or person acting on behalf of an employer shall intimidate, dismiss or otherwise penalize an employee or threaten to do so, (a) because the employee, (i) asks the employer to comply with this Act and the regulations, (ii) makes inquiries about his or her rights under this Act, (iii) files a complaint with the Ministry under this Act, (iv) exercises or attempts to exercise a right under this Act, (v) gives information to an employment standards officer, (v.1) makes inquiries about the rate paid to another employee for the purpose of determining or assisting another person in determining whether an employer is complying with Part XII (Equal Pay for Equal Work), (v.2) discloses the employee’s rate of pay to another employee for the purpose of determining or assisting another person in determining whether an employer is complying with Part XII (Equal Pay for Equal Work), (vi) testifies or is required to testify or otherwise participates or is going to participate in a proceeding under this Act, (vii) participates in proceedings respecting a by-law or proposed by-law under section 4 of the Retail Business Holidays Act, (viii) is or will become eligible to take a leave, intends to take a leave or takes a leave under Part XIV, (ix) makes inquiries about whether a person holds a licence to operate as a temporary help agency or a licence to act as a recruiter as required under Part XVIII.1; or (b) because the employer is or may be required, because of a court order or garnishment, to pay to a third party an amount owing by the employer to the employee. 2000, c. 41, s. 74 (1); 2017, c. 22, Sched. 1, s. 41; 2021, c. 35, Sched. 2, s. 5.
Onus of proof
(2) Subject to subsection 122 (4), in any proceeding under this Act, the burden of proof that an employer did not contravene a provision set out in this section lies upon the employer. 2000, c. 41, s. 74 (2).
Conclusion
Reprisals - don’t do them. They’re usually illegal and you’ll just look like an asshole.
If you feel the urge to pretend to be harassed so you can call the police because you are being sued, it is not a smart idea.
But I’m not your lawyer or paralegal.