Canada's Constitution

Paper Summary:

In North America, citizens have come to depend on their "rights". However, several cases over the past few years have begun to demonstrate that perhaps they have put too much faith in something that is covered in bureaucratic red tape. This essay shows that it takes more than just a written constitution to guarantee fair treatment and civil rights. It argues that the enactment of the Canadian Charter of Rights has not led to equality for all Canadians.

From the Paper:

"The following court case is an example of the high financial cost of protecting your rights. An Ontario printer currently faces charges for choosing not to print "materials that promote and celebrate" a gay lifestyle (Lowes, 2001, p.1). Prior to these charges, Scott Brockie had never refused printing jobs from homosexual groups but when he was asked to print materials that promoted behaviors that were in conflict with his personal beliefs he declined. Brockie is fighting for the right to follow his own convictions and beliefs, a right guaranteed without exception in section 2A of Part I in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Canadian Charter, 1982). Originally convicted of discrimination and fined for $5000, Brockie appealed the court decision and has spent the last several years dealing with legal snares and one-tenth of a million dollars in legal fees."

More papers on Canada's Constitution:

• Term Paper # 100287 : "Canada's First Nations and the Mass Media"
• Analytical Essay # 141343 : "Canada: The Law and Freedom of Speech"
• Analytical Essay # 133807 : "The Native Self-Governance Movement in Canada"
• Persuasive Essay # 133930 : "Poverty in Canada"

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