Elementary PowerPoint 2: Rights and Responsibilities in a Democracy

What is an example of a right you have? What is a RIGHT? What is an example of a right you have?

Rights A right is a freedom that is protected or something you are entitled to have or receive Rights are usually fought for and claimed, and less often simply granted All citizens living in a democracy have guaranteed rights Examples: the right to express yourself, freedom of religion

Have you ever had to argue for a privilege at home or in school Have you ever had to argue for a privilege at home or in school? Were you successful? If so, how? Have you seen a film or TV show about a group of people that were fighting to gain certain rights? Which right(s) were they arguing for? How did they make their case? Were they successful? How long did it take?

Rights and Freedoms in Canada The Canadian Bill of Rights (1960) was the first written expression of human rights law at the national level Our rights and freedoms are now protected at both the provincial and national level by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, a part of the Canadian Constitution

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms The Charter has seven sections that define our rights as Canadians: Fundamental freedoms Democratic rights Mobility rights Legal rights Equality rights Official languages of Canada Minority language education rights

Fundamental Freedoms Freedom of religion (to pray & worship in your own way) Freedom of thought (to form your own opinion) Freedom of expression (to express your opinion freely) Freedom of the press (to report on all matters) Freedom of peaceful assembly (to gather and protest respectfully) Freedom of association (to meet and associate with others)

Our Democratic Rights The right to vote in government elections (must be 18 years of age or older and a Canadian citizen) The right to become a candidate for election or run for political office (same requirements as voting) That our elected members meet at least once a year That elections be held every five years (or less) except in times of war or rebellion

Women’s Suffrage in Canada Initially, only men who owned property could vote in Canada Women eventually gained the right to vote (suffrage) after years of persistent protest In April 1917, British Columbia passed a law that allowed women to vote in provincial elections By 1918, women across Canada had nearly the same voting rights as men in federal elections and they gained the right to run for federal office in 1919 However, these voting rights did to apply to all women (certain ethnic and racial groups were still not allowed to vote)

Have you ever witnessed or participated in a protest Have you ever witnessed or participated in a protest? What did you think of it?

Universal Suffrage Men and women of several ethnic and racial minorities, such as Canadians of Chinese and Japanese origin and Indigenous peoples, were still unable to vote for many years The last of the limitations for various ethnic and religious groups were not removed until 1960 Universal suffrage is the expansion of the right to vote to all adult citizens

What is a responsibility? What are some examples of responsibilities you have?

Responsibilities in a Democracy A responsibility is a duty or obligation It is the responsibility of all Canadians to respect and abide by the rules set out by the Constitution in order to benefit from their protected rights The right to vote comes with the responsibility to cast ballot and to make an informed decision

Voter participation The number of people voting in elections has decreased over the years Voter turnout is the percentage of people who voted Young voters are less likely to vote than older voters In the 2013 British Columbia provincial election, only 55 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot

Provincial Voter Turnout Year Voter Turnout 1983 70.5% 1986 65.8% 1991 64.0% 1996 55.4% 2001 58.2% 2005 50.1% 2009 69.2% 2013 55.3%

Final discussion Why do you think fewer people are voting? Do you think it is disrespectful to those who fought for the right to vote? What would you say to someone to convince them to vote? Will you vote in elections when you turn 18 years old? Why or why not? How important is it that individuals are responsible members of society?