Rights and Responsibilities

Canada is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. Every person in Canada — citizen and resident alike — is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which became part of the Constitution in 1982. The Charter codifies a thousand-year-old British tradition of ordered liberty going back to the Magna Carta of 1215, blended with the French civil-law tradition and the Aboriginal treaty heritage.

Fundamental freedoms

The Charter guarantees: - Freedom of conscience and religion. - Freedom of thought, belief, opinion, and expression, including freedom of the press. - Freedom of peaceful assembly. - Freedom of association.

Other Charter rights

• Mobility rights — every citizen may live and work anywhere in Canada, enter and leave the country freely, and apply for a Canadian passport.
• Aboriginal Peoples' rights — the rights guaranteed by the Charter do not adversely affect any treaty or other rights of Aboriginal peoples.
• Official language rights and Minority Language Educational rights — French and English are the two official languages.
• Multiculturalism — a fundamental characteristic of Canadian heritage and identity, preserved and enhanced by the Charter.

Your responsibilities

Rights come paired with duties. Canadian citizens are expected to: - Obey the law. No politician, leader, or wealthy individual is above the law. - Take responsibility for oneself and one's family. Getting a job, taking care of family, and working hard are valued. - Serve on a jury when called. - Vote in elections. The right to vote comes with a responsibility to use it. - Help others in the community. Millions of volunteers donate their time freely to make Canada better. - Protect and enjoy our heritage and environment. Every Canadian has a role in avoiding waste and pollution and protecting Canada's natural, cultural, and architectural heritage.

Equality of women and men

Canadians value the equality of women and men. Spousal abuse, honour killings, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, and other gender-based violence are crimes in Canada. Anyone living in Canada must obey Canadian law in these matters — culture and religion are not defences.

Defending Canada

There is no compulsory military service in Canada, but serving in the regular Canadian Forces (navy, army, air force), the Reserves, or the Coast Guard is a noble way to contribute. Citizens may also serve their communities through volunteer work or by becoming a police officer or firefighter.