What is the Charter of Rights and Freedoms?
The Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a federal statute passed in 1982 that provides for fundamental rights and freedoms for all Canadians. The principal rights that the Charter confers are: the right to life, liberty and security of the person; the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure; the right not to be arbitrarily detained or imprisoned; the right, upon being arrested or detained, to be informed of the reason for arrest or detention; and the right to retain and instruct counsel without delay; and the right to be tried within a reasonable time. The Charter is a very important piece of legislation that works to protect the rights of the individual, especially individuals who are subject to the criminal process. It also gives the court discretionary authority to declare evidence inadmissible at trial when there has been a breach of a Charter right, and where the admission of the evidence would bring the administration of justice into disrepute. Criminal lawyers fr
