Is The Canadian Charter Of Rights And Freedoms Perfect

Is the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms Perfect? Introduction The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is without a doubt one of Canada’s most important section entrenched in the Canadian Constitution. The Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a bill of rights enacted into the Canadian Constitution as part of the Canada Act in 1982. However, the Charter was Canada’s second attempt to protect the rights and freedoms of its citizens all throughout the country and on every level of government. The Canadian Bill of Rights, which preceded the Charter was enacted in 1960. However, being only a federal statute rather than a full constitutional document, it had no power and application to provincial laws. In addition, the Supreme Court of Canada only narrowly interpreted the Bill of Rights, therefore rarely unlawful laws were declared inoperative and continued to exist. As a result, the ineffectiveness of the Bill of Rights led to many movements to improve the protection of rights and freedoms in Canada. However, similar to its predecesso r, the Charter is not without faults, and loopholes. In some cases, it has even infringed upon certain liberties and democratic rights and freedoms. In other cases, the Charter has incited conflicts between liberty and democracy and raised questions that speculate whether it is truly democratic. Liberty vs. Democracy in the Charter One of the most notable effects of adopting the Charter is that it greatly expanded the scope of judicialShow MoreRelatedThe Canadian Charter Of Rights And Freedoms1613 Words   |  7 Pages The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms simply referred to as the â€Å"Charter†, is a significant document in regards to the Canadian constitution. Its primary aim is to uphold individual rights and freedoms and promote equality in administering justice. However, its passage in 1982 has led to increased controversies given that the Charter gives courts more power in interpreting its provisions while sidelining the legislature (Boyd 118). This means that the advent of this Charter was the end ofRead MoreThe Inclusion of the Notwithstanding Clause in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms1299 Words   |  6 PagesThe Inclusion of the Notwithstanding Clause in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms The inclusion of the Notwithstanding Clause in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was an invaluable contribution in the evolution of the liberal democratic state. Not an endpoint, to be sure, but a significant progression in the rights protection dynamic. Subsequent to its passage in 1982 it became the primary rights protecting mechanism, however, its raison d`etre was as a neccessary concessionRead MoreResidential Schools898 Words   |  4 Pages1870s and 1996 exposes numerous human rights and civil liberties violations of individuals by the government. This case study involves both de jure discrimination and de facto discrimination experienced by Aboriginals based on their culture. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms specifically protects Aboriginal rights under section 25 and section 15 declares that, â€Å"Every individual is equal before and under the law† (Sharpe Roach, 2009, p. 307). Human rights and civil liberties of AboriginalRead MoreTremblay V. D aigle s A Baby After A 5 Month Sexual Relationship1788 Words   |  8 Pageschild in mid July 1989. As a result, he was granted an injunction as the fetus is considered a living person and has the â€Å"Right to life†under Section 1 of the Quebec Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Daigle responded with an appeal to the Quebec Court of Appeal, however they also agreed to the Superior Court s decision that the fetus has the â€Å"Right to life† under the Quebec Charter. Daigle then appealed the injunction to the Supreme Court of Canada in August 1989 over the abortion issue of her childRead MoreThe Canadian System of Goverment863 Words   |  4 Pagesparticipate in the process of creating legislation and policy, and freely agree to conform to them and share moral consequences† (Shoughi 3), and yet it can be argued that a wide percentage of citizens are unengaged and consequently negatively impact this â€Å"perfect† picture of democracy in Canada. In practic e, there is nothing forcing citizens to be well advised on national politics, nor is there a penalty for not voting in elections. Without this commitment from all citizens, how can Canada be considered aRead MoreCanada Public Policy Essay1665 Words   |  7 Pagesimpact how public policy affects Canadians. However, an unexpected political actor shapes Canadian law in a more extrinsic and all-encompassing way and acts as a sort of â€Å"unofficial† policy maker in government despite its role in the judicial court system: The Supreme Court of Canada. The Supreme Court of Canada is a public policy maker because it has the ability to extend the parameters of a law (to some degree), redact a law, and restrict the abilities of other Canadian policymakers. According to HeinmillerRead MoreThe Barrier Free Designs Should Not Only Aid1471 Words   |  6 Pagesresponsible by law, legislations, and policies enforced by the Canadian government. UFV is required to follow certain given gu idelines in order to preserve the â€Å"BC Human Rights Code† and the â€Å"Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms†. The â€Å"Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms† states the equality and rights of every individual, including physically challenged citizens. In order to follow this charter, one must practice the â€Å"BC Human Rights Code†. The use of this code is for protecting British Columbia’sRead MoreThe Issue Of Sex Work1715 Words   |  7 Pagesextremely opinionated when it comes to this topic. Nevertheless, when disregarding different beliefs and moral arguments, every human being has the right to voice out their opinions and have their human rights respected in Canada. Therefore, Bedford’s case focuses on the Courts and whether Canadian laws follow the Constitution and protect human rights of those engaging in sex work. There are four main components in the Criminal Code that is related to prostitution. These include Section 21 0, whichRead MoreWhat Is Canadas Ranking2000 Words   |  8 Pageshas ranked Canada in second place in its 2017 Best Countries Report. According to a Global News article, â€Å"Canada named second best country in the world†¦again† In the article, Switzerland has beaten out Canada for the number one ranking, scoring a perfect 10 while Canada took a 9.7 in overall score. This survey conducted after the US election looked at over 80 countries in a variety of different categories, including economic influence, citizenship and the quality of life. It is partially true thatRead MoreCapital Punishment Should Be Abolished1955 Words   |  8 Pages7 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom, it goes against the teachings of the church, and it creates the possibility for someone to be wrongfully executed. On June 26th, 1976, the Canadian Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, abolished capital punishment across the nation (12). From 1749 to 1976, over 1,481 people had been sentenced to death, and out of that number, a staggering 710 were executed (2). From 1960 to 1982, the Canadian Bill of Rights contained