Social 9 - Unit 3: Charter of Rights and Freedoms

What is a Right?

What individuals and groups are allowed to do in society, as established in law

What is a Freedom?

The state of being free; liberty; self-determination; absence of restraint; the opposite of slavery.

What are your individual rights and freedoms under the Charter?

-Fundamental Freedoms
-Mobility Rights
-Equality Rights
-Legal Rights
-Democratic Rights

Fundamental Freedoms

The freedom to:
-Express your opinions
-Choose your own religion
-Organize peaceful meetings and demonstrations
-Associate with any person or group

Mobility Rights

The right to:
-Move anywhere within Canada and earn a living there
-Earn, stay, or leave Canada

Equality Rights

The right to be free of discrimination because of race, national or ethnic origin, religion, gender, age, or mental or physical disability.

Legal Rights

The right to:
-Be free of imprisonment, search and seizure without reason backed by law and evidence
-A fair and quick public trial by an impartial court that assumes you are innocent until proven guilty

Democratic Rights

The right to vote for:
-Members of the House of Commons and provincial legislature
-A new government at least every five years

What are the responsibility/responsibilities associated with the Freedom to express your opinion?

-Become informed before expressing an opinion
-Respect the rights of others to have different opinions

What are the responsibility/responsibilities associated with the Freedom to choose your own religion?

-Respect the rights of others to believe in a religion, or not

What is the responsibility/responsibilities associated with the Freedom to organize peaceful meetings and demonstrations?

-Organize the meeting or demonstration so that it is peaceful
-Act responsibly when attending meetings and demonstrations

What are the responsibility/responsibilities associated with the freedom to associate with any person or group?

-Accept responsibility for group action or leave the group

What are the responsibility/responsibilities associated with democratic rights?

-Respect election results
-Vote
-Communicate wishes to elected officials on laws and policies

What are the responsibility/responsibilities associated with mobility rights?

-Have a valid passport when leaving and returning to Canada
-Become familiar with the laws of the province or territory you move to

What are the responsibility/responsibilities associated with legal rights?

-Know the laws and adhere to them

What are the responsibility/responsibilities associated with equality rights?

-Awareness of other's rights
-Stand up for rights
-Pursue action through legal means to uphold rights

Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Part of the Canadian constitution which sets out the framework for how Canada is to be governed. The constitution is the highest law in Canada. All other laws must be consistent with it.