Transcript Slide 1

Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada,
2007.
The Charter of Rights and Freedoms came into effect April 17, 1982. The Canadian Charter of Rights
and Freedoms describes the rights and freedoms that belong to all Canadians. Canadians are free to
think what they want, say what they want, and make for themselves the lives that they want.
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is part of Canada’s constitution; it is the supreme law of Canada.
The government of Canada is guided by the Charter when making laws. The court system is guided by the Charter
when enforcing laws. The Charter provides the courts with a framework to arrive at an answer for a question
about rights and freedoms.
Queen Elizabeth and then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau signed the Charter on April
17, 1982. Trudeau saw the Charter as a source of Canadian unity. Canada’s values
In the photograph, new Canadians participate in a citizenship ceremony.
Canada is a multicultural country, and our laws protect and preserve the
diversity. The rights and freedoms belong to every Canadian citizen,
permanent resident, or newcomer (except for voting rights and the right to
enter and leave Canada freely).
Everyone has fundamental freedoms. The Charter grants
Canadians the freedoms to believe what they choose, to express
their values, and to form associations.
Canadians have the freedom of conscience and religion. Everyone has the
freedom and right to choose, to practice, and to express their religious
beliefs.
Canadians are guaranteed the freedom of thought in the Charter.
The Charter provides freedom of beliefs.
The freedom of opinion is another freedom protected in the Charter.
Everyone has freedom of expression. This means that people can speak out and
express themselves in art, film, dance, and written works.
The freedom of the press and other media of communication is protected in the
Charter.
Canadians have a right to peaceful assembly. They can meet for example with
cultural groups, education organizations, sports clubs, unions, or political parties.
Freedom of association means that Canadians are free to join together or
associate with friends, community members, anyone.
Rights are things that all human beings deserve. The Charter of Rights and
Freedoms protects and affirms individual and collective rights.
Every Canadian has the right to participate in Canadian democracy.
Every Canadian has the right to live and seek employment anywhere in Canada.
Every Canadian citizen has a democratic right to vote in an election for members
of the House of Commons, a member of the Provincial Legislature, and a member
of their local government. Canadian citizens also have the right to vote for a new
government at least every five years.
Canadians have mobility rights and may travel and work in any province. A Canadian
citizen has the right to enter, remain in, and leave Canada
Canada’s legal system protects the rights of the accused during arrest, trial and
imprisonment; according to Canada’s legal rights, all people accused of a crime are
assumed innocent until proven guilty. All Canadians are free from imprisonment
and search and seizure without reasons backed by law and evidence.
Laws that do not apply to all Canadians are considered discriminatory. Equality
rights means that every individual is equal based on race, national or ethnic
origin, religion, gender, age, or mental or physical disability.
Minority language education rights are upheld in the Charter. Canadians speaking
either official language are permitted, if numbers allow, to be instructed in their first
language–French or English.
Canada is a bilingual country, and all business by the federal level of government is
conducted in both official languages. Canadians have the right to use either language
when communicating with or receiving services from federal government offices.
Among other guarantees, special legislation and land settlements have been granted
to Canada’s Aboriginal peoples. Certain tax freedoms have also been granted to
Aboriginal peoples. The Charter does not take away any Aboriginal, treaty, or other
rights and freedoms recognized in the Royal Proclamation Act 1763 or any preexisting land claims.
The Charter is interpreted in a manner consistent with the preservation and
enhancement of the multicultural heritage of Canadians. Canada is a garden . . . Into
which has been transplanted the hardiest and brightest flowers of many lands, each
retaining in its new environment the best of the qualities for which it was loved and
prized in its native land. –John Diefenbaker, former prime minister
Rights and freedoms described in the Charter are those that must exist in a free
and democratic society. There are other laws made by federal, provincial, and
territorial governments that protect rights as well.