RIGHTS, FREEDOMS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms gives Canadians
protection.
1833
1884
1900
1900
1908
1914
1916
1918
1920
• Slavery abolished
• Indian act outlawed cultural and religious ceremonies
• Chinese immigration act increases head tax from $50-$100
• Dominion election act excludes minorities from voting in elections
• Continuous passage passed
• Komagatta maru 24 of of 376 stay in Canada
• WW1 Ukrainians, Hungarians and Germans classed as enemy aliens and internment takes place
• Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta grant women the right to vote provincially
• War time elections act gives federal vote to some women
• Federal franchise act gives women the right to vote except aboriginals and minorities
• Women can run for federal office
1921
1927
1928
1929
1940
1942
1945
1946
• Quebec courts upholds right to ban black patrons from top seats
• Indian act makes it illegal for aboriginals to hire lawyers to pursue land claims.
• Alberta passes the Sexual Sterilization act ordering the sterilization of patients in psychiatric hospitals
• Supreme court decides that word person does not apply to women
• Famous Five gets privy council to rule that women are persons
• Communist party outlawed
• Hutterites, Doukhobors and enemy aliens are bared from buying land
• Japanese Canadians removed from homes and sent to internment camps
• Covenant blocking sale of land to Jews is struck down
• Saskatchewan bill or rights act passed.
1948
1952
1953
1956
• People of all races except status Indians get the right to vote
• Supreme court rules Jehovah’s witnesses may pass religious pamphlets
• Fair employment practices act
• Female employees equal pay act
• Status Indians given the right to vote
1960 • Bill of rights
CANADIAN CHARTER
1982

Founding principle
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Rights and freedoms set out in it
are subject only to such
reasonable limits prescribed by
law as can be demonstrably
justified in a free and democratic
society
Jurisdiction

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Supremacy of god and the rule of
law
Guarantee of Rights and
Freedoms


OF
Applies to all branches and levels
of government including crown
corporations.
Enforcement

Any citizen can bring the
government to court will judges
will rule on interpret the charter
RIGHTS
AND
FREEDOMS

Limitations to Rights and
Freedoms

Reasonable limits clause:
means that limitations to
rights and freedoms can be
imposed in certain situations

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Must be important reason for
limiting the right
Notwithstanding clause

Allows provincial and Federal
governments to pass
legislation that is exempt from
S. 2 and 7-15 in the charter.
FREEDOMS
ABILITY TO CONDUCT OUR LIVES AS WE SEE FIT
Fundamental freedoms (s 2)
Freedom of conscience
and religion
 Freedom of thought,
belief, opinion and
expression
 Freedom of peaceful
assembly
 Freedom of association

RIGHTS
LEGAL MORAL OR SOCIAL ENTITLEMENT TO ALL
PEOPLE

Democratic rights (s3-5)
Vote, and run in an
election at least once
every 5 years.
 Must be Canadian citizen
and 18 yrs old


Mobility rights(s6)
Enter, remain or leave
Canada
 The right too move to
any province.


Legal rights (s7-14)

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Life, liberty and security of
person
Right from unreasonable search
and seizure
Not to be arbitrarily detained
Habeas Corpus, informed of
why arrested, access to council,
have validity of arrest heard.
Presumed innocent until proven
guilty, tried in a reasonable
time, does not have to give
evidence against self, not tried
for the same crime twice. Can
only be tried for offences that
were an offence at the time of
the crime.
No cruel or unusual punishment
No evidence given by witness
can be used against them unless
in perjury trial.
Right to an interpreter.

Equality rights


Official languages


Equal before and under the
law with out discrimination
based on race, national or
ethnic origin, colour,
religion, sex age or mental
or physical disability.
English and French official
languages of Canada
Minority language rights

Right to have children
educated in English or
French if Their and parent
first language was either.
RESPONSIBILITIES

By accepting our rights and
freedoms Canadians have the
obligation of:

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understand and obey
Canada’s laws;
express opinions freely while
respecting the rights and
freedoms of others; and
help others in the community;
care for and protect our
heritage and environment;
eliminate discrimination and
injustice.
vote in elections( municipal,
provincial and federal)
support Canada’s ideals in
building the country