EQUALITY DEBATE in Canada TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD UNIT

Draw a Chart like this: Canada is essentially equal in opportunities Canada STILL discriminates against certain groups of people

Did you know… 1917 – women get the vote. But Aboriginal people don’t until 1960?! 1917 – women get the vote. But Aboriginal people don’t until 1960?! Aboriginal children forced to be stripped from their culture and their language? Aboriginal children forced to be stripped from their culture and their language? 1940's, Japanese Canadians were put in prison camps in Canada just because of WW2? 1940's, Japanese Canadians were put in prison camps in Canada just because of WW2? Until the 1970's, there were laws in Canada that allowed governments to sterilize women and men with disabilities without their knowledge or consent? Until the 1970's, there were laws in Canada that allowed governments to sterilize women and men with disabilities without their knowledge or consent? All of these groups were denied equality. All of these groups were denied equality.

CURRENT RIGHTS Today in Canada we have legal protection for victims of discrimination and a constitutional guarantee of equality rights for all. Canada Charter of Rights and Freedom (below). Today in Canada we have legal protection for victims of discrimination and a constitutional guarantee of equality rights for all. Canada Charter of Rights and Freedom (below). Constitution Act, Constitution Act, Equality Rights Equality Rights 15. (1) Every individual is equal before the and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age, or mental or physical disability. 15. (1) Every individual is equal before the and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age, or mental or physical disability.

RACIAL RIGHTS All races must be included, by law, and respected as equals. All races must be included, by law, and respected as equals. 1944: Ontario Passes Racial Discrimination Act, forbidding any kind of prejudice based on race, ethnicity, or religion. 1866: First Black Politician 1960: Aboriginals get right to vote 2005: First Black Governor General of Canada Michaëlle Jean Canada Human Rights Commission. Milestones of Human Rights in Canada. Government of Canada. Sept 5, Web.

RACE INEQUALITY “Black males living in Toronto are three times more likely to be carded by police, no matter where they live; police stop residents more frequently in neighbourhoods that are largely populated by people of colour.” “Black males living in Toronto are three times more likely to be carded by police, no matter where they live; police stop residents more frequently in neighbourhoods that are largely populated by people of colour.” “Racialized immigrant women earn only 48.7 per cent of the employment income that non-racialized immigrant men earn, while racialized women as a whole earn 56.5 per cent ($25,204) of what white men earn ($45,327)” “Racialized immigrant women earn only 48.7 per cent of the employment income that non-racialized immigrant men earn, while racialized women as a whole earn 56.5 per cent ($25,204) of what white men earn ($45,327)” Galabuzi, Grace.The Persistence of Racial Inequality in Canada. The Star. March 20, Web.

RACE INEQUALITIES US Influences: black President, film and tv, stats reflect Canada: middle class growing. US Influences: black President, film and tv, stats reflect Canada: middle class growing. “but… by 18 years of age, one quarter of all black American children will have seen one of their parents behind bars…” “but… by 18 years of age, one quarter of all black American children will have seen one of their parents behind bars…” So is it just that “instead of solving the problem, has the United States quite literally removed the victims of inequality from public record and put them in a box,” and poof, progress? Is that happening in Canada too? So is it just that “instead of solving the problem, has the United States quite literally removed the victims of inequality from public record and put them in a box,” and poof, progress? Is that happening in Canada too? Saunders, Doug. Racial Equality Looks Different from Behind Bars. The Globe and Mail. June 9, Web

GENDER RIGHTS Women must be included, by law, and respected as equals. Women must be included, by law, and respected as equals. Canada was one of the first countries to sign and ratify the, which set international standards for eliminating gender discrimination. Canada was one of the first countries to sign and ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, which set international standards for eliminating gender discrimination.Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women 1993: Employment Insurance for pregnant women. 1993: Employment Insurance for pregnant women. Gender Equality. Canada’s Policy on Gender. Government of Canada. April 30, Web Canada Human Rights Commission. Milestones of Human Rights in Canada. Government of Canada. Sept 5, Web.

GENDER INEQUALITY Canada earns a “C” and ranks 11th out of 17 peer countries. Canada earns a “C” and ranks 11th out of 17 peer countries. The gender income gap in Canada persists. The gender income gap in Canada persists. Age, occupation, and education all affect the size of the gender income gap. Age, occupation, and education all affect the size of the gender income gap. Conference Board of Canada. Gender Income Gaps. How Canada Performs. January Web.

GENDER INEQUALITY

DISABILITY RIGHTS “In 2007, Canada was among the first countries to sign the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.” “In 2007, Canada was among the first countries to sign the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.” Canada Human Rights Commission. Milestones of Human Rights in Canada. Government of Canada. Sept 5, Web.

GLBT RIGHTS All people who are GLBorT must be included, by law, and respected as equals. All people who are GLBorT must be included, by law, and respected as equals. “It was not until 1996 that Parliament added sexual orientation to the Canadian Human Rights Act, making it an eleventh ground of discrimination that is not allowed in Canada.” “It was not until 1996 that Parliament added sexual orientation to the Canadian Human Rights Act, making it an eleventh ground of discrimination that is not allowed in Canada.” 2005-JUL-20: Bill C-38 made same-sex marriages available across Canada was signed into law. Canada Human Rights Commission. Milestones of Human Rights in Canada. Government of Canada. Sept 5, Web.

POVERTY PROBLEMS “Linked to inequality is Canada’s high poverty rate, which ranks among the worst (a “D”) of the 17 [developed] countries [along with USA]. Canada’s child poverty rate is 15.1%. ‘Poor children do not eat well, do not learn well and have low chances of escaping poverty when they grow up,’ Lafleur, reporter.” Canada Falling Behind on Poverty, CBC, February 4th, Web.

WEALTH Everyone in Canada presently has the right to education. Everyone in Canada presently has the right to education. Education is in place to help lessen discrimination against different classes for children. Education is in place to help lessen discrimination against different classes for children. Some social assistance programs are available for those with low income level families. Some social assistance programs are available for those with low income level families.

WEALTH

WEALTH