Defending Canada There is no compulsory military service in Canada. However, serving in the regular Canadian f orces
(navy, army and air force) is a noble way to contribute to Canada and an excellent career choice
(www.forces.ca). You can serve in your local part-time navy, militia and air reserves and gain valuable
experience, skills and contacts. Young people can learn discipline, responsibility and skills by getting
involved in the cadets (www.cadets.ca).
You may also serve in the Coast Guard or emergency services in your community such as a police force or
fire department. By helping to protect your community, you follow in the footsteps of Canadians before
you who made sacrifices in the service of our country.
The equality of Women and Men In Canada, men and women are equal under the law. Canada's openness and generosity do not extend
to barbaric cultural 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.
Canadian citizens have rights and responsibilities. These come to us from our history, are secured by
Canadian law, and reflect our shared traditions, identity and values.
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 that we have inherited from
Great Britain.
Your Canadian Citizenship Study Guide Rights and Responsibilities
of Citizenship
8
Together, these secure for Canadians an 800-
year old tradition of ordered liberty, which dates
back to the signing of Magna Carta in 1215 in
England (also known as the Great Charter of
Freedoms), including:
• 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 Constitution of Canada was amended in
1982 to entrench the Canadian Charter of Rights
and Freedoms, which begins with the words,
“Whereas Canada is founded upon principles
that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule
of law.” This phrase underlines the importance of
religious traditions to Canadian society and the
dignity and worth of the human person.
The Charter attempts to summarize fundamental
freedoms while also setting out additional rights.
The most important of these include:
• Mobility Rights - Canadians can live and
work anywhere they choose in Canada, enter
and leave the country freely, and apply for a
passport.
• Aboriginal Peoples' Rights - The rights
guaranteed in the Charter will not adversely
affect any treaty or other rights or freedoms of
Aboriginal peoples.
• Official Language Rights and Minority
Language Educational Rights - French and
English have equal status in Parliament and
throughout the government.
• Multiculturalism - A fundamental
characteristic of the Canadian heritage and
identity. Canadians celebrate the gift of one
another's presence and work hard to respect
pluralism and live in harmony.
Queen Elizabeth II
proclaiming the
amended Constitution,
Ottawa, 1982
Citizenship Responsibilities In Canada, rights come with responsibilities.
These include:
• Obeying the law - One of Canada's founding
principles is the rule of law. Individuals and
governments are regulated by laws and not by
arbitrary actions. No person or group is above
the law.
• Taking responsibility for oneself and one's
family - Getting a job, taking care of one's
family and working hard in keeping with one's
abilities are important Canadian values. Work
contributes to personal dignity and self-
respect, and to Canada's prosperity.
• Serving on a jury - When called to do so, you
are legally required to serve. Serving on a jury is a
privilege that makes the justice system work as it
depends on impartial juries made up of citizens.
• Voting in elections - The right to vote comes
with a responsibility to vote in federal,
provincial or territorial and local elections.
•
helping
others in the community - Millions
of volunteers freely donate their time to help
others without pay-helping people in need,
assisting at your child's school, volunteering
at a food bank or other charity, or encouraging
newcomers to integrate. Volunteering is an
excellent way to gain useful skills and develop
friends and contacts.
•
protecting and enjoying our heritage and
environment - Every citizen has a role to
play in avoiding waste and pollution while
protecting Canada's natural, cultural and
architectural heritage for future generations.
9
Discover Canada
Defending Canada There is no compulsory military service in Canada. However, serving in the regular Canadian f orces
(navy, army and air force) is a noble way to contribute to Canada and an excellent career choice
(www.forces.ca). You can serve in your local part-time navy, militia and air reserves and gain valuable
experience, skills and contacts. Young people can learn discipline, responsibility and skills by getting
involved in the cadets (www.cadets.ca).
You may also serve in the Coast Guard or emergency services in your community such as a police force or
fire department. By helping to protect your community, you follow in the footsteps of Canadians before
you who made sacrifices in the service of our country.
The equality of Women and Men In Canada, men and women are equal under the law. Canada's openness and generosity do not extend
to barbaric cultural 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.
Canadian citizens have rights and responsibilities. These come to us from our history, are secured by Canadian law, and reflect our shared traditions, identity and values.
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 that we have inherited from
Great Britain.
Your Canadian Citizenship Study Guide Rights and Responsibilities
of Citizenship
8
Together, these secure for Canadians an 800-
year old tradition of ordered liberty, which dates
back to the signing of Magna Carta in 1215 in
England (also known as the Great Charter of
Freedoms), including:
• 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 Constitution of Canada was amended in
1982 to entrench the Canadian Charter of Rights
and Freedoms, which begins with the words,
“Whereas Canada is founded upon principles
that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule
of law.” This phrase underlines the importance of religious traditions to Canadian society and the
dignity and worth of the human person.
The Charter attempts to summarize fundamental
freedoms while also setting out additional rights.
The most important of these include:
• Mobility Rights - Canadians can live and
work anywhere they choose in Canada, enter
and leave the country freely, and apply for a
passport.
• Aboriginal Peoples' Rights - The rights
guaranteed in the Charter will not adversely
affect any treaty or other rights or freedoms of
Aboriginal peoples.
• Official Language Rights and Minority
Language Educational Rights - French and
English have equal status in Parliament and
throughout the government.
• Multiculturalism - A fundamental
characteristic of the Canadian heritage and
identity. Canadians celebrate the gift of one
another's presence and work hard to respect
pluralism and live in harmony.
Queen Elizabeth II
proclaiming the
amended Constitution,
Ottawa, 1982
Citizenship Responsibilities In Canada, rights come with responsibilities.
These include:
• Obeying the law - One of Canada's founding principles is the rule of law. Individuals and governments are regulated by laws and not by arbitrary actions. No person or group is above
the law.
• Taking responsibility for oneself and one's family - Getting a job, taking care of one's family and working hard in keeping with one's
abilities are important Canadian values. Work
contributes to personal dignity and self-
respect, and to Canada's prosperity.
• Serving on a jury - When called to do so, you
are legally required to serve. Serving on a jury is a privilege that makes the justice system work as it
depends on impartial juries made up of citizens.
• Voting in elections - The right to vote comes with a responsibility to vote in federal,
provincial or territorial and local elections.
•
helping others
in the community - Millions of volunteers freely donate their time to help others without pay-helping people in need,
assisting at your child's school, volunteering at a food bank or other charity, or encouraging
newcomers to integrate. Volunteering is an excellent way to gain useful skills and develop friends and contacts.
•
protecting and enjoying our heritage and environment
- Every citizen has a role to play in avoiding waste and pollution while protecting Canada's natural, cultural and architectural heritage for future generations.
9
Discover Canada
