Citizenship Rights & Responsibilities

1. Citizenship Rights & Responsibilities

2. Journal (10 mins) • Do you feel that the voting age of 18 is fair? Why or why not?

3. How do you become a Canadian citizen? • Modern Canada is a multicultural society • Multicultural – a description of a nation, such as Canada, that allows many different ethnic groups to retain their own languages, religion, and culture with tolerance and without discrimination

4. Becoming a Canadian citizen • Canadian of all backgrounds enjoy the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship • To Become a Canadian citizen: • 1) Must be born in Canada (automatic citizenship) • 2) If you are born outside Canada after February 15, 1977 and have ONE parent that is a Canadian citizen

5. Becoming a Canadian citizen • To Become a Canadian citizen: • 3) Immigrants to Canada from other countries do not automatically become Canadian citizens. Usually new immigrants are classed as permanent residents, with some of the rights of Canadian citizens. In order to become a Canadian citizen, he or she must meet the following requirements: • 18 years of age • Been a permanent resident for 3 years • Have knowledge of Canada, including the rights & responsibilities of citizenship • Be able to speak either English or French, the two official languages of Canada

6. The Constitution • The body of rules or laws which Canada is governed; passed in 1982, it contains Canada’s new Charter of Rights & Freedoms, the amending formula, and the 1867 British North American Act

7. The Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedoms • Outlines the rights of Canadian citizens & permanent residents • Came into • effect in 1982

8. The Canadian Charter of Rights & Freedoms – Citizens ONLY • Some rights only apply to citizens of Canada: • Vote • Run in an election • Leave country & return as one pleases, regardless of time spend abroad

9. Limitations • Charter outlines right to freedom of speech BUT if freedom of speech is used to hurt others, someone else’s rights are affects • Courts may be brought in to decide who’s rights have priority • Government attempts to make laws that meet the requirements but some sections are unclear • What is a cruel & unusual punishment? • What actions are considered discriminatory?

10. Bill of Rights • 1960 – Canadian Bill of Rights recognized the civil rights in Canadian law • Freedom of Religion • Freedom of the press • Freedom of speech • Freedom of assembly & association • Equality before the law • Life, liberty, security of the person & enjoyment of property

11. Human Rights Code • The Code is a provincial law that gives everybody equal rights and opportunities without discrimination in the social areas of: • employment • accommodation • goods, services and facilities • contracts • membership in vocational associations and trade unions • gender expression

12. Responsibilities • Charter implies the following responsibilities: • Right to protection by the law means that you have the responsibility to obey the law • Right to vote means that you have responsibility to stay informed about what governments are doing, about the views of political parties, and about the issues that are important to your community

13. General Responsibilities include: • Becoming informed about issues that our society faces • Listening to the ideas of others and respecting their rights • Using our skills and abilities in a socially useful manner • Being actively and thoroughly involved in protecting our own and other people’s rights • Participating in improving our communities, if we disagree with certain decisions and laws as they exist

14. Check your Understanding • Three ways to become a citizen? • Important rights the Charter guarantees? • What of the following are “rights” under the Charter? In which cases would these rights affect the rights of others? • Right to shout rude comments during a movie in a theatre • Right to be protected from being beaten up • Right to be free from sexual harassment • Right to live in any province of Canada