1. Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Our Individual Rights as Canadians

2. RIGHTS vs. FREEDOMS Right – something you can demand; common privilege
Freedom – absence of control over action
EG:
Getting a chance to vote at the national elections means getting your right.
Getting a chance to vote for someone you really want to vote for means freedom.

3. What is the Charter of Rights & Freedoms?
Part of Canada’s Constitution
The Constitution is the highest law of Canada
all other laws must be consistent with it
Created constitutional protections for individual rights & freedoms
Canadians can challenge in court laws which restrict their rights; the Judicial Branch makes decisions about these challenges by interpreting how to apply the Charter
Issues for Canadians, page 96

4. What is the Charter of Rights & Freedoms?
The Charter says that Canada’s government is justified in restricting rights if the restrictions are necessary to maintain Canada as a free & democratic country
The Charter was signed in a ceremony by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1982
Issues for Canadians, page 96

5. Your Individual Rights Under the Charter
Fundamental Freedoms:
Freedom of conscience and religion
Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression
Freedom of peaceful assembly (meetings and demonstrations)
Freedom of association

6. Your Individual Rights Under the Charter
Democratic Rights:
Every citizen of Canada has the right to vote in an election of members of the House of Commons or their provincial legislature and be qualified for membership
Right to vote every five years

7. Your Individual Rights Under the Charter
Mobility Rights:
Every citizen of Canada has the right to enter, remain in and leave Canada
Every citizen has the right to take up residence in any province

8. Your Individual Rights Under the Charter
Legal Rights:
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person
Everyone has the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure
Everyone has the right not to be arbitrarily detained or imprisoned
Everyone has the right on arrest or detention:
To be informed of the reason
To retain and instruct legal counsel without delay

9. Your Individual Rights Under the Charter
Equality Rights:
Every individual is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law without discrimination based on:
race
nationality or ethnic origin
religion
gender
age
mental or physical disability

10. Rights & Responsibilities
Below are all of the responsibilities that correspond with you individual rights. Please try to match them up with the correct RIGHTS in your chart:
Respect the results of elections
Respect the rights of others to believe in a religion or not
Know the laws and adhere to them
Accept responsibility for group actions or leave the group
Become informed before expressing an opinion
Be aware of the rights of others
Act responsibly when attending meetings and demonstrations
Become familiar with the laws of the province or territory you move to
Vote
Stand up for rights
Communicate wishes to elected officials on laws and policies
Have a valid passport when leaving and returning to Canada
Respect the rights of others to have different opinions
Organize the meeting or demonstration so that it is peaceful
Pursue action through legal means to uphold rights

11. My Rights - My Responsibilities

12. Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Our Collective Rights as Canadians

13. Collective Rights: Key Terms
Collective rights: rights guaranteed to specific groups in Canadian society for historical and constitutional reasons; these groups are:
Aboriginal peoples including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples
Francophone and Anglophones
Collective Identity: the shared identity of a group of people, especially because of a common language and culture
Source: Issues for Canadians page 118

14. The Charter: Collective Rights
What are collective rights?
Rights held by groups/peoples in Canadian society that are recognized and protected by Canada’s constitution
Who holds collective rights in Canada?
Aboriginal peoples, including First Nations, Metis, and Inuit
Francophone and Anglophones
Source: Issues for Canadians page 122

15. The Charter: Collective Rights
What legislation relates to collective rights?
Source: Issues for Canadians page 122

16. Numbered Treaties Agreements between Queen and FN FN education
Residential Schools
Annuities
Annual payment
Reserves
Recognized sovereignty of FN

17. Law or Policy? Law – conditions or principles that MUST be followed
Policy – describes how to follow law
EG:
Numbered Treaties=LAW (provide education)
Residential schools=Policy

18. Indian Act, 1876 Little consult with FN (ethnocentric Europeans)
Status Indians
Aimed to Assimilate
Told how to conduct affairs
Cannot travel, dress, take political action
Give up legal ID and Treaty rights in order to vote

19. B

20. A

21. D B