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War Measures Act
The War Measures Act gave the government power to maintain order during times of war or emergencies. They had the power to arrest people without a charge and they could censor the press. The Act was used 3 different times, during WW1, WW2 and The October Crisis of 1970. It was invoked by Pierre Trudeau. It impacted human rights development by showing the risks of government overreach during war and emergencies. In 1988 the War Measures Act was switched to the Emergencies Act -
Persons Case
The Persons Case was a landmark legal decision in Canada that established women as a person under the law, allowing them to hold public office. Emily Murphy, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney and Irene Parlby took there case to the Judical Committee of the Privy Council in England. The Persons case set the standard for gender equality and paved the way for women’s legal rights. -
Canadian Bill Of Rights
The Canadian Bill Of Rights was Canada’s first federal law protecting human rights. Prime Minister John Diefenbaker introduced the Bill Of Rights. It established things like freedom of speech, right to life, freedom of religion and equality before the law. The Bill Of Rights turned out to be limited because it applied mainly federal statutes. -
Ontario Human Rights Code
The Ontario Human Rights Code is a provincial law that prohibits discrimination in various area like employment, housing, contracts and services. It also protects you from being discriminated due to your age, ancestry, family status and disability. -
Official Languages Act
The official languages act is a federal law that makes sure that English and French speaks have equal status. -
Charter Of Rights And Freedoms
The Charter Of Rights and Freedoms is a major part of Canada’s constitution. It protects the rights and freedoms of Canadians. The charter has shaped Canada’s legal system, promoting fairness and equal treatment for everyone. -
Employment Equity Act
The Employment Equity Act is a law that makes workplaces more equal. It requires that groups like women, people with disabilities and indigenous people. -
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
The AODA is a law passed in 2005 that was gonna make Ontario fully accessible to people with disabilities. It ensured anyone that has a disability will have equal opportunity in work, transportation and daily life. -
Civil Marriage Act
Canada was the fourth country to legalize same sex marriage, making sure that same sex couples had the same rights as opposite gender couples. This was a major step forward for LGBTQ+ rights. -
Bill C-16 Gender identity and expression
Bill C-16 changed the Canadian Human Rights Act and the criminal code to protect gender identity and expression. It made it illegal to discriminate against trans and non binary people in employment and services. This ensures stronger protection for people in the LGBTQ+ community.