SMITH
“Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law.” Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
"I am Canadian, a free Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship God in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, free to choose those who govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to
uphold for myself and all mankind."
- John Diefenbaker, 13th Prime Minister of Canada
The quote above by John Diefenbaker, included in the 1960 Canadian Bill of Rights, established a federal commitment to the self-determination of the individual. 22 years later, in 1982, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms expanded the depth and breadth of this conviction to an overarching national commitment embedded in our constitution which would serve to protect the civil liberties of all Canadians. Now in 2022, we face abuses of power by our elected officials who erroneously believe their actions are supported by Section 1 of the Charter. The Charter's function is particularly important at this time as our government has introduced measures which limit our ability to move freely throughout the country. To this date, no attempts have been made to demonstrably justify the implementation of these mandates as necessary or effective. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms has been a beacon of hope during these troubled times. It enshrines our fundamental freedoms of conscience and religion, thought, belief, opinion, expression, press and communications, assembly and association, and our right to vote and elect our governments. It gives us our right to move freely in and out of Canada, and within Canada. That includes our right to work in any province. The charter provides a clear explanation of our right to life, liberty and security; our protection against abuse within the legal system; our rights of equality; our French and English language rights; and our rights of educational choices and options. It is why some Canadians were confused, and concerned when our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the very man who should be upholding this charter, made a statement that clearly goes against everything the charter stands for:
