Citizenship

Guiding Question: In what ways can laws protect people in a democratic society?

The Canadian Charter of Rights & FReedoms

The Date to Know: The Charter was signed into law in 1982 by Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.
Entrenched in the Constitution: "Entrenched" means it is locked firmly inside the Constitution of Canada. It is the supreme law of the land, meaning no other regular law passed by the government can violate it.
- - A Constitution is the highest law in a country.

The Charter reflects Canadian democracy, which means citizens have a voice in how they are governed.
It recognizes Canada's diverse heritage by protecting the rights of different groups.
Who Must Follow It? The Charter applies to all levels of government (Federal, Provincial, and Municipal). Police, lawmakers, and public institutions must respect the Charter.

Fundamental freedoms are basic choices that everyone in Canada is allowed to make.
These freedoms are guaranteed to everyone in Canada, including citizens, permanent residents, and visitors.
Important freedoms include:
- - Freedom of expression (speaking, writing, and creating art).
  - Freedom of religion (choosing what to believe and how to worship).
  - Freedom of peaceful assembly (gathering peacefully in groups or protests).
  - Freedom of association (joining any group, club, or union).

Individual rights belong to every single person in Canada.
Equality rights mean everyone is treated fairly regardless of race, gender, age, disability, or religion.
Legal rights protect people when they deal with police or the courts (for example, the right to a fair trial).
Religious rights protect your ability to practice your faith safely.
The Charter enforces the rule of law, which means the law applies equally to everyone, including leaders and politicians.

Collective rights are rights held by specific groups in society to protect their heritage, culture, and language.
Section 25 recognizes Aboriginal and treaty rights for Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit).
The Charter recognizes English and French as the two official languages of Canada.
Section 23 guarantees minority language education rights.
- - This allows Francophones (French speakers) outside Quebec and Anglophones (English speakers) in Quebec to receive public education in their native language.

Section 29 protects the right to publicly funded religious schools, such as Catholic schools.
This right was originally created in the British North America Act (1867) and was kept when the Charter was created in 1982.

The Charter applies to all levels of government (federal, provincial, and municipal).
Citizens can use the Charter to challenge unjust policies in court if they feel a government law is unfair.
The Charter helps promote societal change by fixing old laws that discriminated against people.
Rights are not unlimited; the Charter includes reasonable limits.
- - Reasonable limits mean your rights can be restricted if exercising them hurts or endangers others (e.g., freedom of speech does not allow hate speech).

Despite Charter protections, diverse cultural communities still face discrimination and racism in Canada.
Discrimination means treating someone unfairly because of who they are.
Examples of ongoing bias include antisemitism (hatred toward Jewish people) and Islamophobia (hatred toward Muslim people).
Canadians must continue to use the Charter to stand up against unfair treatment.

Canada is not the only country with a rights document, but the Charter is unique because it includes collective rights.
As society changes, Canadians continue to discuss new freedoms and new responsibilities (such as environmental care or digital privacy).

Guiding Question: In what ways does civic participation support democratic societies?

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