Chapter 1
Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
Where Canadian rights come from, the freedoms the Charter protects, and what citizenship asks of you in return.
Where Canadian rights come from
- Canadian citizens have both rights and responsibilities. They come from our history, are secured by Canadian law, and reflect shared traditions, identity and values.
- Canadian law draws on several sources: laws passed by Parliament and the provincial legislatures, English common law, the civil code of France, and the unwritten constitution inherited from Great Britain.
- Together these secure an 800-year-old tradition of ordered liberty, dating back to the signing of Magna Carta in England in 1215, also known as the Great Charter of Freedoms.
- Habeas corpus, the right to challenge unlawful detention by the state, comes from English common law.
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The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- The Constitution of Canada was amended in 1982 to entrench the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
- The Charter opens by stating that Canada is founded upon principles recognizing the supremacy of God and the rule of law.
- The four fundamental freedoms are: freedom of conscience and religion; freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of speech and of the press; freedom of peaceful assembly; and freedom of association.
- The Charter also sets out additional rights, the most important being mobility rights, Aboriginal peoples’ rights, official language rights and minority language educational rights, and multiculturalism.
- Mobility rights mean Canadians can live and work anywhere in Canada, enter and leave the country freely, and apply for a passport.
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The equality of women and men
- In Canada, men and women are equal under the law.
- Canada’s openness does not extend to barbaric cultural practices such as spousal abuse, “honour killings”, female genital mutilation, forced marriage or other gender-based violence. Those guilty of such crimes are severely punished under Canada’s criminal laws.
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Citizenship responsibilities
- Obeying the law. The rule of law is one of Canada’s founding principles: individuals and governments are regulated by laws and not by arbitrary actions, and no person or group is above the law.
- Taking responsibility for oneself and one’s family. Getting a job, caring for one’s family and working hard in keeping with one’s abilities are important Canadian values.
- Serving on a jury. When called to do so you are legally required to serve; the justice system 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.
- Helping others in the community. Millions of volunteers donate their time without pay — helping people in need, assisting at a school, or volunteering at a food bank or other charity.
- Protecting and enjoying our heritage and environment. Every citizen has a role in avoiding waste and pollution and protecting Canada’s natural, cultural and architectural heritage for future generations.
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Defending Canada
- There is no compulsory military service in Canada.
- Serving in the regular Canadian Forces — the navy, army and air force — is one way to contribute, and there are also part-time naval, militia and air reserves.
- You may also serve in the Coast Guard, or in community emergency services such as a police force or fire department.
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