1. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

2. The Charter……
defines the relationship between people, organizations and companies and the government
has 34 sections
Includes the legislative executive and administrative branches of govt as well as Crown corporations, banks and other institutions regulated by the federal government

3. The Charter….. Is enforced by the Supreme Court
Allows people who believe their rights and been infringed or violated by Government to challenge the government in Court

4. The Supreme Court asks three main questions when considering a Charter case…..
Was the right violated by the government?
Is the right covered by the Charter?
Is the violation or infringement within a reasonable limit?

5. What is a “reasonable limit”??
There are four criteria:
Must be important enough to justify overriding a constitutionally protected right
Must be reasonably and logically connected to the objective for which it was enacted
The right must be limited as little as possible
The more severe the limitation, the more important the objective must be

6. THE FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS

7. Freedom of Conscience and Religion
Section 2(a)
You have a right to entertain the religious beliefs you choose, to declare those beliefs openly without fear and to express you religious beliefs though practice, worship, teaching and spreading of ideas.

8. Freedom of Thought and Expression
Section 2(b)
You are free to think and believe what you want and to publicly express your opinions through writing, speech, painting, photography and other means.
Regarded as one of the key freedoms in a democracy.

9. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association
Section 2(c)
Freedom to assemble for peaceful purposes such as demonstrating against a government action or in support of a cause
Abilty to connect with other people or groups such as unions, political parties, cultural groups, educational organizations or sporting groups

10. Democratic and Mobility Rights

11. Democratic Rights
Sections 3,4 and 5 of the Charter guarantee democratic government
Section 3—the right to vote (subject to reasonable restrictions)
Section 4—the right to elect new governments every 5 years (except under extraordinary circumstances)
Section 5—governments must hold at least one session per year

12. Mobility Rights
Section 6 of the Charter protects the right of citizens to move in and out of the country and between provinces
Section 6(1)—Extradition—accused persons can be sent to countries to face trial (Except if they face death penalty)
Some restrictions/differences are allowed—ex: social services programs require a minimum time of residency

13. Legal and Equality Rights
Sections 7-11 of the Charter cover areas of criminal law: investigating a crime, procedural fairness, use of evidence, etc

14. Life, Liberty and Security of Person
Section 7
Every person has the right to life, liberty and security of the person and cannot be deprived of these rights
Controversial in terms of abortion rights, assisted suicide

15. Unreasonable Search and Seizure
The police must have a good reason for searching the person , home or belongings of an accused
The search must be conducted fairly

16. Arbitrary Detention or Imprisonment
People cannot be held for questioning, arrested or kept in jail without good reason

17. Rights While Under Arrest or Detention
Section 11
Sets out important rules that protect anyone charged with an offence
Presumed innocent until proven guilty
Trial conducted fairly
Right not to be denied bail
Right to trial by jury for serious charges

18. Cruel and Unusual Punishment
Section 12
Governments cannot treat or punish individuals in an unnecessarily harsh fashion
Some controversy over what this means
Supeme Court considers: gravity of the offense, personal characteristics of offender, circumstances of case

19. Right of Witnesses in Court
Guarantees that testimony cannot be used against you.
Also guarantees the right of an interpreter if necessary

20. Equality Rights Section 15
Every individual is considered equal and government cannot discriminate in its laws or programs

21. Section 15 There are three basic parts:
Every citizen is equal under the law
Every citizen has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law
These rights are to applied equally and without discrimination

22. The government is allowed to set up programs which improve conditions for disadvantaged groups even though they are discriminatory to the minority—eg: handicapped parking!

23. Language and General Rights

24. Language Rights Section 16-22
English or French can be used in Parliament
Laws, govt publications etc must be in both languages
Federal offices must be bilingual
Either language can be used in court
Equal status of both languages in NB recognized

25. Language Education Rights
In the nine English provinces parents have the right to have their children educated in French if:
1)Their first language is French OR
2)They received their own primary (k-2) schooling in French OR
3)They have another child already in French education
This is opposite in Quebec—except #1 does not apply

26. Aboriginal Rights Section 25
Protects the culture, customs, traditions, languages and other rights or freedoms of aboriginal peoples

27. Multicultural Rights Section 27
Respect and preservation of the cultural differences of Canadians