Rights and Responsibilities

Canadian law has several sources, including laws passed by Parliament, English common law, and the civil code of France. Many rights trace back 800 years to the Magna Carta of 1215, also known as the Great Charter of Freedoms. In 1982, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms was entrenched in the Canadian Constitution. It begins with the words: "Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law."

The Charter protects fundamental freedoms: 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. It also guarantees mobility rights — Canadians can live and work anywhere in Canada, enter and leave the country freely, and apply for a passport.

Other rights recognized in Canada include Aboriginal peoples' rights (the Charter does not take away rights guaranteed by treaties), official language rights and minority language educational rights (English and French have equal status in Parliament and government), and multiculturalism, a fundamental characteristic of Canadian heritage and identity. In Canada, men and women are equal under the law. Canada's openness does not extend to barbaric cultural practices such as spousal abuse, "honour killings", female genital mutilation, or forced marriage — these are severely punished under Canada's criminal laws.

In Canada, rights come with responsibilities. Obeying the law is fundamental: no person or group is above the law. Citizens are also expected to take responsibility for themselves and their families — getting a job, taking care of one's family and working hard, in keeping with one's abilities, are important Canadian values.

Serving on a jury is a legal requirement: when called to do so, you must serve. The jury system guarantees trial by one's peers and depends on citizens fulfilling this duty. Voting in federal, provincial or territorial, and local elections is both a right and a responsibility of citizens.

Canadians are also encouraged to help others in the community — millions of volunteers give their time to help newcomers, visit the sick, or assist at food banks — and to protect and enjoy our heritage and environment. Every citizen has a role in avoiding waste and pollution and passing Canada's natural, cultural and architectural heritage on to future generations.

There is no compulsory military service in Canada. However, serving in the Canadian Forces — the navy, army and air force — is a noble way to contribute to Canada and an excellent career choice. You can serve in the regular forces or in the reserve forces part-time, and young people can learn discipline, responsibility and skills through the cadets.

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.