Canadian Rights and Freedoms Quiz

Justine's Case and Discrimination

• Justine, a hockey player, challenged an Ontario law that discriminated against her due to gender.
• The case went to the Supreme Court, where she won.
• The court ruled that gender-based discrimination is illegal.

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

• The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects the rights and freedoms of Canadians.

Individual Rights

• Equality Rights: Everyone deserves equal treatment, regardless of gender, race, or religion.
• Accommodating Differences: People with special needs should be treated equally.

Collective Rights

• Aboriginal Rights: Aboriginal people have rights to their traditional territories even if no treaty exists.
• Language Rights: Both English and French have equal status and rights within Canada.

Becoming a Canadian Citizen

• Requirements include birth in Canada or successful completion of a citizenship test.

Democracy and Participation

• Democracy: A system where citizens participate in shaping their communities. Increased participation strengthens democracy.
• Common Good: A condition that benefits the majority of people.
• Equity: Treating people fairly, ensuring everyone has opportunities to succeed.
• Laws Enforcing Equity: Laws are meant to guarantee equitable outcomes for all.

Democratic Rights (Canadian Charter)

• The Charter includes sections detailing citizens' democratic rights.

Participation and Voting

• Representative Democracy: Canadian citizens elect representatives to govern on their behalf. Representatives must address citizen needs.
• Voting Rights in Canada's Past: Initially, voting rights were limited to men from Europe who owned property. Over time, more people gained the right to vote.
• Timeline and Voting Age: The rules for voting and eligibility have changed over time— the age and eligibility details are not included in the text and should be viewed on page 41.

Voting Rights and Women

• Suffrage: The right to vote.
• Suffragettes: Women who fought for women's suffrage.
• Women gained the right to vote in 1918.
• Other groups like people of different religions, backgrounds, or nationalities later gained full voting rights.

Rule of Law in Democracy

• Rule of Law: A crucial component of democracy, stating that laws apply equally to all.
• Magna Carta: An influential document (1215) establishing the rule of law in England. It signified that even important individuals must abide by the law of the land.

Making the Law (Rule of Law)

• Citizen Participation: Citizens must have input in creating and changing laws.
• Law Information: Citizens must be informed about existing laws.
• Equal Treatment under the Law: Laws apply equally to everyone regardless of factors like race, origin, religion, gender, or disability.
• Applying the Law: citizens must also participate in applying laws fairly.

How People Make a Difference

• Individuals can affect change by supporting causes like community building projects, helping marginalized groups, or sharing their stories.

Detecting Bias

• Bias: Prejudice favoring or opposing something, often unfairly affecting judgment.
• Example of Bias Detection: Finding bias in written materials involves identifying words or phrases that express prejudice.