A Summary of Charter Rights

April 17, 1982

Let's take a closer look at the rights the Charter protects (although the best way to learn about them is to read the Charter itself; it's pretty short).

Charter rights are divided into a number of categories:

• Fundamental Freedoms
• Democratic Rights
• Legal Rights
• Equality Rights
• Official Languages
• Minority Language Educational Rights

Here are some of the key rights:

Fundamental Freedoms (Section 2)

These include freedom of:

• conscience and religion
• thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communications
• peaceful assembly association

Democratic Rights (sections 3, 4 and 5)

• right to vote
• maximum duration and sitting of legislative bodies

Mobility Rights (section 6)

• the right to move to and live in any province
• the right to pursue a livelihood in any province

Legal Rights (sections 7-14)

• life, liberty, and security of the person
• security against unreasonable search and seizure
• no arbitrary detention or imprisonment
• be informed promptly for the reasons for any arrest or detention
• retain and instruct counsel on arrest
• trial within a reasonable time by an impartial tribunal
• the presumption of innocence
• no self-incrimination
• no cruel and unusual punishment
• the right to a court-appointed interpreter

Equality Rights (section 15)

• equal treatment before and under the law
• equal benefit and protection of the law without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability

Language Rights

• English and French are the official languages of Canada
• Minority language education rights in certain circumstances.