Chapter 3 - Individual Rights

• Constitution


  The highest set of laws that establish a framework of governance
• Amendment


  A change or addition to legislature
• Charter


  A legal document outlining rights
• Confederation


  Federation of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia formed in 1867 and constituting the Dominion of Canada
• Precedent


  A Supreme Court decision (constitutional interpretation) that acts to inform future and current legislation and application
• Democracy


  A political system in which the power lies in citizens who elect people to represent them
• Discrimination


  Distinguishing a person on the basis of a group that they belong to, not on their individual merits or traits, generally to denigrate or deny opportunity
• Diversity


  Difference and/or variety
• Equality Rights


  The right to be free of discrimination
• Fundamental Freedoms


  The right to conscience, religion, opinion, expression, press, media, association, and assembly
• Internment


  A state of confinement
• Labour Union


  An organization of workers that acts to collectively represent workers' rights and interests
• Legal Rights


  Right to life, liberty, and security of person, a fair, timely, and impartial trial, security against unreasonable detainment, search, and seizure, presumption of innocence
• Mobility Rights


  Citizens of Canada have the right to enter, remain in, or leave Canada, and move within the country to gain a livelihood
• October Crisis


  Only peacetime use of the War Measures Act to address a terrorist kidnapping by a Quebec separatist group, the FLQ
• Patriate


  The turning over or return of legislative power that are formally held by another country
• Suffrage


  The right to vote in political elections
• Suffragettes


  Group of women who advocate for female suffrage - a woman's right to vote
• War Measures Act


  Gives broad powers to the federal government during times of conflict or crisis, including limiting rights
• Freedom and Democracy


  Two factors (protection of) by which rights can be limited by government, as outlined in Section 1
• Democratic Rights


  The right to vote for and run as a candidate in elections at least every 5 years
• Chinese Immigration Act


  Limited the number of Chinese immigrants to Canada, and placed a head tax on them
• Indian Act


  The legislation that defines who can be considered an "Indian" and also dictates their rights within Canada
• Ukrainian Internment (WWI)


  During World War I (1914-1918) anyone of Ukrainian or Germanic descent (8,000+) were sent to internment camps as potential "enemies" of Canada
• Italian Internment (WWII)


  During WWII (1940-1945) Italian people (mostly men) were arrested and sent to camps

  as potential "enemies" of Canada
• Internment of Japanese Canadians (WWII)

  During WWII (1942-1945), after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese Canadians were moved away from the west coast to internment camps inland
• Lord's Day Act


  Legislation that required most businesses to be closed on Sundays
• No-Fly List


  A government list of people posing "an immediate threat to aviation security" and are barred from flying in Canada
• Anti-Terrorism Act


  A law passed in response to the September 11, terrorist attacks which gave the government rights-limiting powers, such as surveillance and detention
• Notwithstanding Clause


  Section 33 of the Charter, which allows for a provincial government to exempt a law from constitutional scrutiny for 5 years
• Compensation


  Something given to make up for something else ($)
• Affirm


  To declare or support positively
• Infringement


  A violation, as of a law, regulation, or agreement
• Responsibility


  A duty - something you should do
• Contravene


  To violate or go against
• Enshrine


  To keep sacred
• Treaty


  A formal (often land) agreement between the government and another group (Aboriginal People)