Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms Study Guide

What is the Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
What rights and freedoms are guaranteed in Canada?
How has the Charter of Rights and Freedoms affected the workplace?
What responsibilities do Canadian citizens have to uphold the Charter?
What are some examples of changes in Canadian society created by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms?

The Charter is a document created in 1982 that became part of Canada’s Constitution.
- The Constitution is the highest law in Canada; no other law can supersede the rules and regulations in the Constitution.
The Charter of Rights and Freedoms recognizes basic human rights granted to each person in Canada.
The Charter states that Canada can restrict certain rights if the restrictions are necessary to maintain Canada as a free and democratic society.
The right to vote, the right to run for public office, and the right to enter and leave the country freely are exclusive to Canadian citizens.
All other rights are given to ALL people on Canadian soil.

Discusses how the Charter addresses past human rights issues through case studies.

Right Being Fought For: The Right to be free from discrimination based on disability.
A deaf woman in BC took her case to the Supreme Court of Canada after a hospital stay where no staff could communicate in sign language.
She argued discrimination due to her disability, endangering her health.
The Result: All hospital medical facilities must provide support for the blind and the deaf.

Right Being Fought For: Freedom of Religion.
Before 1982, stores in Canada were closed on Sundays due to Christian values.
After the Charter, a Calgary drug store intentionally opened on a Sunday, protesting laws based on Christian values.
The case went to the Supreme Court of Canada.
The Result: Stores can now be open on Sundays to accommodate diverse religious beliefs.

Right Being Fought For: Right to be Innocent Until Proven Guilty, Mobility Rights.
Canada maintains a “no-fly” list of people suspected of terrorist activity or considered a ‘significant threat’ to an airplane.
Many Canadians protest this list because it is seemingly racist and because many innocent Canadians have ended up on the list, with no due cause.
The Result: The list is still allowed to exist, due to the importance of airport and airplane security for all citizens.

Right Being Fought For: Right to be free from discrimination based on gender.
A “gender gap” existed where women earned only 70 cents for each dollar earned by a man for equal work.
After the Charter, female workers lobbied for and were rewarded with higher pay, helping to close the gap.
The Result: Organizations are required by law to provide equal pay for equal work to male and female employees with similar qualifications.

Right Being Fought For: Right to be free from discrimination based on age.
A mandatory retirement age of 65 existed in Canada.
Many people over 65, still able to work, fought this law, feeling it was discriminatory.
The Result: In most provinces, laws protect elderly workers; as long as you can perform your job, you can’t be forced to quit at age 65.

Rights	Responsibilities
The right to a fair trial if accused of a crime	The responsibility to sit on a jury if asked
The right to free speech	The responsibility not to discriminate against others
The Right to Vote	The Responsibility to vote knowledgeably