Rights & Responsibilities of Citizenship
Canadian citizens have rights and responsibilities that come from our history, are secured by Canadian law, and reflect our shared traditions, identity and values.
Sources of Canadian law
Canadian law has several sources, including 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).
Four fundamental freedoms
Canadian law protects: 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. Habeas corpus — the right to challenge unlawful detention by the state — comes from English common law.
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 protects: Mobility Rights (Canadians can live and work anywhere in Canada, enter and leave freely, and apply for a passport); Aboriginal Peoples' Rights (Charter rights will not adversely affect Aboriginal treaty rights); Official Language Rights (French and English have equal status in Parliament and throughout government); and Multiculturalism (a fundamental characteristic of Canadian heritage and identity).
Democratic rights and mobility rights
The Charter guarantees democratic rights: every Canadian citizen has the right to vote in federal and provincial elections and to stand for election, regardless of race, gender, religion or other personal characteristics. Governments (federal and provincial) must hold elections at least every five years. Mobility rights allow Canadian citizens to enter, remain in, and leave Canada freely, and to live and work anywhere in the province of their choice. Permanent residents also have the right to move and take up residence in any province. These rights can only be limited by laws providing for reasonable residency requirements for social services.
Citizenship responsibilities
In Canada, rights come with responsibilities. These include: obeying the law (no person or group is above the law); taking responsibility for oneself and one's family (getting a job and working hard in keeping with one's abilities); serving on a jury when called (legally required — it makes the justice system work); voting in elections (the right to vote comes with a responsibility to do so); helping others in the community (volunteering); and protecting and enjoying our heritage and environment.
Equality of women and men
In Canada, men and women are equal under the law. Canada's openness and generosity do not extend to practices that tolerate 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.
Defending Canada
There is no compulsory military service in Canada. However, serving in the regular Canadian Forces (navy, army and air force) is a noble way to contribute to Canada and an excellent career choice. You may also serve in the Coast Guard or emergency services such as a police force or fire department.
Language rights and multiculturalism
English and French are Canada's two official languages and have equal status in Parliament and throughout the federal government. Citizens have the right to communicate with and receive services from the federal government in either official language. The Charter also protects the rights of official-language minority communities to education in their own language where numbers warrant. Multiculturalism is recognized as a fundamental characteristic of Canadian heritage and identity. The Charter instructs courts to interpret rights in a manner consistent with the preservation and enhancement of the multicultural heritage of Canadians.
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Key Facts
- •Rights and responsibilities come from our history, are secured by Canadian law, and reflect our shared traditions
- •The Magna Carta (1215) established the 800-year-old tradition of ordered liberty that Canada inherited
- •The Charter of Rights and Freedoms became part of the Constitution in 1982
- •Three responsibilities of citizenship: obeying the law, taking responsibility for yourself and family, serving on a jury
- •Men and women are equal under the law in Canada
- •There is no compulsory military service in Canada
- •Gay and lesbian Canadians enjoy full protection and equal treatment under the law, including access to civil marriage