Un2 Culmn by Raisa Rranza

Women’s Voting Rights (1916-1918)

rrranza6194 — 2024-10-21 15:52:28 UTC

Suffragettes were women fighting for the right to vote. Nellie McClung was the most notable, she held mock theatres and made petitions. (one of which gave women the right to vote in municipal elections). In 1916, Manitoba women were given the right to vote if they were of British descent and over 21. The Wartime Elections Act and Military Voters Act gave women the right to vote federally to women in armed forces and women that are relatives of military men, women were later given the right to vote federally without military connection.

Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1986)

rrranza6194 — 2024-10-21 15:52:48 UTC

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms was written by the Trudeau government in 1986. It was entrenched in Canadas constitution and serves roughly the same purpose as the Bill of Rights. Since the Charter is in the Constitution it has regulation over Canadian legislation and was much more effective. The Charter also consists of rights like the right to religion, expression, move, and others.

Persons Case (1927)

rrranza6194 — 2024-10-21 15:53:06 UTC

The famous five, consisting of Emily Murphy, Nellie McClung, Louise McKinney, Irene Parlby and Henrietta Muir Edwards, were scholars and highly educated women. These famous women asked an important question to the Supreme Court of Canada; does the word “person” in section 24 of the BNA act include women? Ultimately, the Supreme Court decided that no, it did not include women. These women did not give up, they took their case to the Judicial Committee in London, that is where it was decided that the BNA act would include woman. This gave women the right to vote federally and eventually gave women all the rights they have today.

Canadian Bill of Rights (1960)

rrranza6194 — 2024-10-21 15:53:22 UTC

The Canadian Bill of Rights was signed and created by John Diefenbaker. Diefenbaker was an activist for minorities in Canada after his own experience of discrimination as a person of German descent. The Holocaust of the Jewish population in World War 2 sparked the desire for protection of civil liberties. Diefenbaker worked with many Canadians to create the Bill of Rights and it took two years to create. The bill was later entrenched with the charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Indian Act Revisions (1951)

rrranza6194 — 2024-10-21 15:54:17 UTC

The Indian Act focuses to administer Indian Status to Indigenous Canadians. The Second World War led to a reconsideration of the act. Indigenous Canadians were consulted on the revisions for the first time. The revisions removed some offensive restrictions and also gave Indigenous women the right to vote in Council Elections. The revision gave the province jurisdiction over indigenous children, this led to the infamous sixties scoop, it also didn’t change the nature of Indian Status, the “Indian Blood” concept was changed, having Indigenous blood wouldn’t be enough to qualify for status.

Indigenous Canadian’s Voting Rights (1960)

rrranza6194 — 2024-10-21 15:54:48 UTC

Indigenous women were given the right to vote in 1951 after the revisions of the Indian Act, however, Indigenous women could only vote in Council elections and not federally. Thanks to the Canadian Bill of Rights and Diefenbakers efforts, all Indigenous peoples gained the right to vote in the 1960s. Before, voting meant giving up Indian status, now Indigenous peoples can vote federally and cannot give up their Indigenous status through voting.

Employment Equity Act (1995)

rrranza6194 — 2024-10-21 15:55:20 UTC

The Employment Equity Act exists to ensure that every individual has an equal chance to employment and benefits that are not related to ability. It also exists to correct conditions of workplace environments for women, aboriginal peoples, and other visible minorities. Since it's creation, the equity act has given a way for minorities to be employed fairly, mainly through measures and conditions that are required to be met.

Ontario Human Rights Code (1962)

rrranza6194 — 2024-10-21 15:55:34 UTC

The Ontario Human Rights Code sets out to protect Ontario citizens from discrimination. Namely in areas like work, services, contracts, residential affairs, and memberships. Any individual that falls under the 16 areas of the Human Rights code is protected, some being race, religion, gender, ethnicity, age, sex, handicap, and sexual orientation, as well as many more. This gives working individuals in Ontario protection and safety from unjust discrimination.

Immigration Act (1967)

rrranza6194 — 2024-10-21 15:56:51 UTC

The points system came about in 1967. This points system added a ranking system to see who was fit for immigration to Canada. Before this addition, people would be accepted based on race or religion, now, the new points system bases acceptance on work skills, education levels, language and connections.

Royal Commission on the Status of Women (1967)

rrranza6194 — 2024-10-21 15:57:11 UTC

The Royal Commission on the Status of Women was created in order to check on the status of women in Canada and to report on it so the federal government can make adjustments to help Canadian women. After the rise of feminist movements in western nations in the 60s, women and activists were fed up with unequal treatment, the act helped the federal government make changes to aspects of society. For example, the wage gap and education.

Canadian Official Languages Act (1969)

rrranza6194 — 2024-10-21 15:59:47 UTC

The Official Languages Act made French and English the official languages of Canada. The act makes it so that it is mandatory that federal institutes offer English and French services. The act also makes it so that any by-laws, orders, laws, and rules must be published in both languages. This is still upheld today and Canadians are often taught French in schools.

Canadian Human Rights Act (1977)

rrranza6194 — 2024-10-21 15:59:59 UTC

The Canadian Human Rights Act is similar to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, however, it focuses on regulating equality rights and ensuring every Canadian is equal. It does this by prohibiting discrimination by race, gender, age, and many more. The creation of the act brought about the Canadian Human Rights Commission, and the Human Rights Tribunal. The act was created in response to the Second World War, and it only applies to federal government workers and those who receive benefits from the government, i.e. First Peoples.

Big M Drug Mart (1985)

rrranza6194 — 2024-10-21 16:21:12 UTC

Big M Drug Mart was caught selling on the Lord's Day, otherwise known as Sunday. The Lord's Day act made it so having businesses open would result in a fine. Usually, pharmacies would be the only ones allowed open. When Big M's case was taken to the Supreme Court, the court found that it was unconstitutional to have stores closed on Sunday because it limited people's freedom to religion.

R. v. Oakes (1986)

rrranza6194 — 2024-10-21 16:21:44 UTC

Oakes was charged with possession of Narcotics, specifically for trafficking. The judge found him guilty, however, Oakes challenged the validity of section 8 of the Narcotics Control Act, which states that the accused must prove that they are not trafficking Narcotics even if they have possession of it. Oakes found that section 8 was unconstitutional, and it violated section 11 of the Charter which states that every individual is innocent until proven guilty, and that placing the burden to prove their innocence on the accused is unjust.

Abortion Rights (1988)

rrranza6194 — 2024-10-21 16:22:02 UTC

In a case, R. V. Morgentaler, the criminal code prohibiting abortion rights was found to violate women's right to life and security. Furthermore, restrictions to abortion, and the system placed to restrict them, was found unjust. Abortion rights continued to be legal after this case and women in Canada still have full access to abortion and are in full control of their bodies.

Delgamuukw v. British Columbia (1997)

rrranza6194 — 2024-10-21 16:22:47 UTC

The case challenged the Aboriginal title and its meaning. After the British claimed First Nations land for themselves, Indigenous peoples have tried to make provincial governments recognize their ownership. However, with multiple fails in court, chiefs filed for land titles with the Supreme Court of B.C. The chiefs wanted titles of over 58,000km of land, this was needed to protect the area from logging, they also wanted provincial governments to recognize that the area was sacred land. With multiple failed attempts at reasoning with the Supreme Court of British Columbia, the claimants filed with the Supreme Court of Canada; this is where the court ruled that provincial governments did not have the right to limit indigenous rights, and it clearly redefined the Aboriginal title as the inherit right to indigenous lands and an Indigenous person.

Vriend v. Alberta (1998)

rrranza6194 — 2024-10-21 16:23:12 UTC

Vriend was given a position by a college in Alberta as a laboratory coordinator, however, in 1999, Vriend was asked to resign after he claimed he was a homosexual. Vriend denied the resignation but was still fired as he did not follow the College's regulation on practicing homosexuality. When Vriend filed a complaint to the Alberta Human Rights Commision he was told that sexual orientation could not be filed against as it was not protected. Vriend appealed to the Court of Queen's Bench, the judge found that it was unjust that sexual orientation was not included in s. 15 of the Charter and that it must be added into the Individual's Rights Protection Act, the one Vriend couldn't file against.

R. v. Marshall (1999)

rrranza6194 — 2024-10-21 16:23:32 UTC

Marshall was caught fishing eels out of season with an illegal net and no license. Marshall was found guilty on all three accounts, he later appealed to the Supreme Court of Canada where Marshall's convictions were reversed. The court recognized that in Peace and Friendship Treaties fishing and hunting was protected. Due to this case, Indigenous communities gained access to commercial fishing industries like lobsters.

Same Sex Marriage (2005)

rrranza6194 — 2024-10-21 16:23:46 UTC

Ontario and British Columbia became the first provinces to legalize gay marriage in 2003. Later, in July of 2005, the Civil Marriage Act legalized gay marriage federally. Provincial governments regulate marriages, as in formal ceremonies, and certifications. However, the Supreme Court ruled that a religious official can deny officiating a ceremony if it goes against their religious beliefs.

Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2007)

rrranza6194 — 2024-10-21 16:23:57 UTC

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was given $72 million dollars to support the effort of apologizing for Residential Schools. The TRC held 7 events across Canada to apologize for the schools. The TRC continues to work with indigenous peoples to implement reconciliation matters. This shows that the Canadian government is working to fix mistakes from their past and will continue to do so for other minorities.