Are there Canadian laws protecting freedom of speech, freedom of religion, etc.?
by RedJohn on October 6th, 2005 Of course. So do most nations, regardless of how they are governed. A law is worth no more than the paper it is printed on, unless there is some mechanism, supported by the government, to enforce such declarations. Unless such laws have the active support of the government, they are worse than useless. The mere existence of a law means *nothing* without enforcement. Laws also exist that are divisive in nature, providing different elements of society with different basic rights. A prime example are the apartheid laws imposed by the former regime in South Africa. In Canada, such rights are outlined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, adopted in 1982, replacing earlier statutes. The Charter guarantees the following kinds of rights: – Fundamental rights (e.g., freedom of speech and religion). – Democratic rights (e.g., the right to vote and have regular elections). – Mobility rights (e.g., the right to move and work anywhere in Canada). – Legal r
