The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees Canadians equal treatment under the law and equal protection and benefit of the law without discrimination. It also guarantees them the right to participate in political activities, to vote, and to be elected to political office. Learn more*
Canada’s federal government is required by law to provide services throughout Canada in English and French.Today, there are 18 million Anglophones (people who speak English as a first language) and 7 million Francophones (people who speak French as their first language). New Brunswick is the only officially bilingual province in Canada.*
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees legal rights— the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, the right to have a lawyer represent you (and to be told that you have this right), and the right to an interpreter in court proceedings if you need one. Learn more*
Those elected to the federal government are Members of Parliament, or MPs.They sit as members in the House of Commons in the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa.There are periods when the House of Commons is in session and members meet to consider, debate, and vote on legislation proposed by the government. Learn more*
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees mobility rights—the right to enter and leave Canada and to move to any province or territory. Learn more*
Each level of government has certain areas of responsibility. The federal government’s major responsibilities are defence, foreign policy, regulation of banking, postal service, criminal law, immigration, and citizenship. The federal government shares responsibility with the provinces and territories for agriculture and immigration. [Day- Planner web site – Link #244]*
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees language rights—the right, in general, to use either English or French in communicating with the federal government and with some of the provincial/territorial governments. Learn more*