Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship
Where our rights come from
- Rights and responsibilities come to us from our history, are secured by Canadian law, and reflect our shared traditions, identity, and values.
- Canadian law has 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 1215 in England — also known as the Great Charter of Freedoms.
- Habeas corpus, the right to challenge unlawful detention by the state, comes from English common law.
Fundamental freedoms
- Freedom of conscience and religion.
- Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of speech and of the press.
- Freedom of peaceful assembly.
- Freedom of association.
The Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- The Constitution of Canada was amended in 1982 to entrench the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
- The Charter begins: "Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law."
- That phrase underlines the importance of religious traditions to Canadian society and the dignity and worth of the human person.
- Mobility Rights — Canadians can live and work anywhere they choose in Canada, enter and leave the country freely, and apply for a passport.
- Aboriginal Peoples' Rights — the rights guaranteed in the Charter will not adversely affect any treaty or other rights or freedoms of Aboriginal peoples.
- Official Language Rights and Minority Language Educational Rights — French and English have equal status in Parliament and throughout the government.
- Multiculturalism — a fundamental characteristic of the Canadian heritage and identity. Canadians work hard to respect pluralism and live in harmony.
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 — spousal abuse, "honour killings", female genital mutilation, forced marriage or other gender-based violence.
- Those guilty of these crimes are severely punished under Canada's criminal laws.
Citizenship responsibilities
- Obeying the law — one of Canada's 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 one's family — getting a job, caring for one's family and working hard are important Canadian values. Work contributes to personal dignity and self-respect and to Canada's prosperity.
- Serving on a jury — when called, 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. Volunteering is a way to gain useful skills and develop friends and contacts.
- Protecting and enjoying our heritage and environment — avoiding waste and pollution while protecting Canada's natural, cultural and architectural heritage for future generations.
Defending Canada
- There is no compulsory military service in Canada.
- The regular Canadian Forces are the navy, army and air force.
- You may serve part-time in the navy, militia and air reserves.
- Young people can learn discipline, responsibility, and skills by joining the cadets.
- You may also serve in the Coast Guard or in emergency services such as a police force or fire department.
Question 1 of 10
How does the Charter treat the treaty and other rights of Aboriginal peoples?
Correct answer: Charter rights will not adversely affect them
Source from the guide
“Aboriginal Peoples' Rights — The rights guaranteed in the Charter will not adversely affect any treaty or other rights or freedoms of Aboriginal peoples.”
The rights guaranteed in the Charter will not adversely affect any treaty or other rights or freedoms of Aboriginal peoples.
Discover Canada · about page 8Discover Canada — Large Print · page 12
Question 2 of 10
What does Discover Canada say about spousal abuse, "honour killings", female genital mutilation and forced marriage?
Correct answer: They are crimes, and those guilty of them are severely punished
Source from the guide
“Canada's openness and generosity do not extend to barbaric cultural practices … Those guilty of these crimes are severely punished under Canada's criminal laws.”
Canada's openness and generosity do not extend to these barbaric cultural practices, and those guilty of them are severely punished under Canada's criminal laws.
Discover Canada · about page 8Discover Canada — Large Print · page 13
Question 3 of 10
What can young people learn by getting involved in the cadets?
Correct answer: Discipline, responsibility, and skills
Source from the guide
“Young people can learn discipline, responsibility, and skills by getting involved in the cadets.”
Discipline, responsibility, and skills.
Discover Canada · about page 8Discover Canada — Large Print · page 14
Question 4 of 10
In what year was the Constitution amended to entrench the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
Correct answer: 1982
Source from the guide
“The Constitution of Canada was amended in 1982 to entrench the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”
1982. Queen Elizabeth II proclaimed the amended Constitution in Ottawa that year.
Discover Canada · about page 8Discover Canada — Large Print · page 12
Question 5 of 10
What two principles does the Charter's opening sentence say Canada is founded upon?
Correct answer: The supremacy of God and the rule of law
Source from the guide
“Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law.”
The supremacy of God and the rule of law.
Discover Canada · about page 8Discover Canada — Large Print · page 12
Question 6 of 10
What does the Charter's opening phrase underline?
Correct answer: The importance of religious traditions, and the dignity and worth of the human person
Source from the guide
“This phrase underlines the importance of religious traditions to Canadian society and the dignity and worth of the human person.”
The importance of religious traditions to Canadian society, and the dignity and worth of the human person.
Discover Canada · about page 8Discover Canada — Large Print · page 12
Question 7 of 10
From which country's law does the civil code among Canada's legal sources come?
Correct answer: France
Source from the guide
“… English common law, the civil code of France and the unwritten constitution that we have inherited from Great Britain.”
France. Its civil code sits alongside English common law as one of Canada's inherited legal traditions.
Discover Canada · about page 8Discover Canada — Large Print · page 11
Question 8 of 10
By helping to protect your community, whose footsteps does Discover Canada say you follow?
Correct answer: Canadians before you who made sacrifices in the service of the country
Source from the guide
“By helping to protect your community, you follow in the footsteps of Canadians before you who made sacrifices in the service of our country.”
Canadians before you who made sacrifices in the service of the country.
Discover Canada · about page 8Discover Canada — Large Print · page 15
Question 9 of 10
Which of the following is one of the fundamental freedoms listed in Discover Canada?
Correct answer: Freedom of peaceful assembly
Source from the guide
“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 four listed freedoms are conscience and religion; thought, belief, opinion and expression including speech and the press; peaceful assembly; and association.
Discover Canada — Large Print · page 11
Question 10 of 10
Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression expressly includes which two freedoms?
Correct answer: Freedom of speech and of the press
Source from the guide
“Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of speech and of the press.”
Freedom of speech and freedom of the press.
Discover Canada · about page 8Discover Canada — Large Print · page 11
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