Rights%20and%20Responsibilities

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Rights and Responsibilities

• We have both!!

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Think about this

• What would your life be like if you didnt have a
  choice in what events and activities you took
  part in with others?
• What rights and freedoms do you expect to have as
  a citizen in Canada?
• When is it okay for laws to restrict peoples
  choices?
• Whats the connection between having the right to
  be represented in government and your identity?

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Canadas Charter of Rights Freedoms what is
it?

• 1) It gives individual rights and freedoms to
  Canadian citizens
• 2) It gives collective rights and freedoms to
  groups in society.
• Dates from 1982
• Part of Canadas constitution which is the
  highest law of Canada, all other laws must be
  consistent with it.

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• Prior to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the
  provincial and federal governments had a variety
  of laws about individual rights.
• So why do we have the Charter

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Now that the Charter exists

• It creates constitutional protection for
  individual rights and freedoms, applying to all
  governments across Canada.
• Canadians can challenge in court the laws that
  restrict their rights.
• Canadas government is justified in restricting
  rights, if it is necessary to maintain Canada as
  a free and democratic country.

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The Charter

• Application
• - states that it applies to all levels of
  government
• Limitations
• - Not all rights are absolute subject to
  reasonable limitations

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YOUR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS(as stated by the Charter)

• Fundamental freedoms
• Freedom to express your opinions
• (I think its stupid that I cant listen to my
  IPOD in class.)
• Freedom to choose your own religion
• Freedom to organize peaceful meetings and
  demonstrations (protests on Parliament Hill)
• Freedom to associate with any person or group.

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• Democratic Rights
• The right to vote for members of the House of
  Commons and of provincial legislatures
• The right to vote for a new government at least
  every five years.

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• Mobility Rights
• The right to move anywhere within Canada and to
  earn a living there.
• The right to enter, stay in, or leave Canada.

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• Legal Rights
• The right to be free of imprisonment, search and
  seizure without reasons backed by law or
  evidence.
• The right to a fair and quick public trial by an
  impartial court that assumes that you are
  innocent until proven guilty.

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

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Official Language rights

• French and English are the two official languages
  in Canada
• - implications of this All the laws made are
  in French and English in all the institutions of
  government. (Federal courts, House of Commons,
  etc)

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Minority Language Education Rights

• People whose first language learned and still
  understood (French or English) is the minority in
  the province they live in
• People who have received their primary school
  instruction in French or English and that
  language is the minority of the province
• AND people who have received their primary or
  secondary education in French or English
• HAVE the RIGHT to have all their children receive
  primary and secondary education in the same
  language.

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Enforcement

• Anyone whose rights or freedoms, as guaranteed by
  the Charter have been infringed or denied may
  seek the court of law to obtain any remedy the
  court considers appropriate or just.

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• But rights come with responsibilities

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Citizenship Responsibilities

• Obeying the law One of Canadas founding
  principles is the rule of law. Individuals and
  governments are regulated by laws and not by
  arbitrary actions. No person or group is above
  the law.
• Taking responsibility for oneself and ones
  family Getting a job, taking care of ones
  family and working hard in keeping with ones
  abilities are important Canadian values. Work
  contributes to personal dignity and self-respect,
  and to Canadas prosperity.

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Responsibilities

• Serving on a jury When called to do so, you are
  legally required to serve. Serving on a jury is a
  privilege that makes the justice system work as
  it depends on impartial juries made up of
  citizens.
• Voting in elections The right to vote comes
  with a responsibility to vote in federal,
  provincial or territorial and local elections.

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Responsibilities

• Helping others in the community Millions of
  volunteers freely donate their time to help
  others without payhelping people in need,
  assisting at your childs school, volunteering at
  a food bank or other charity, or encouraging
  newcomers to integrate. Volunteering is an
  excellent way to gain useful skills and develop
  friends and contacts.
• Protecting and enjoying our heritage and
  environment Every citizen has a role to play in
  avoiding waste and pollution while protecting
  Canadas natural, cultural and architectural
  heritage for future generations.

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Did you know?

• The Charter of Rights and Freedoms gives every
  person in Canada the same rights, whether they
  are a citizen or not!!!
• 2 EXCEPTIONS
• You have to be a Canadian Citizen to
• Have the right to vote!
• Have the right to leave Canada freely