Canadian Human Rights Timeline

By Aimee24

  • Women's Voting Rights

    1918 marked a significant victory in terms of women's federal voting rights in Canada. First starting in Manitoba, spreading to Alberta and Saskatchewan, followed by Ontario and British Columbia, then Quebec and the Maritimes much later. Women could now vote all over Canada with no bounds, but full and inclusive suffrage took much longer to achieve, with barriers remaining for Indigenous and racialized women well into the mid-20th century.

  • Persons Case

    The Persons Case was very important for Canadian women in that they were now seen as "persons" under Canadian Law, and they could now run for Senate. This was fought for by the Famous Five who brought this case to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council after being rejected by the Supreme Court.

  • Indian Act Revision

    The Indian Act was revised for the first time, and some restrictions were lifted following WWII. Communities were able to make land claims, perform religious ceremonies, and Indigenous women could now vote in band council elections.

    Although some changes to the Indian Act were beneficial, some were harmful. For example, the changes gave provincial jurisdiction over Indigenous child welfare, which led to the 1960s scoop.

  • Indigenous Voting Rights

    First started in 1924 when male Indigenous WWI and WWII veterans gained the right to vote. This was extended to the veterans' spouses in 1944.
    In 1949 Status indigenous peoples were granted the right to vote in British Columbia without having to give up their status. The entire Indigenous community didn’t gain the right to vote everywhere with no restrictions until 1960.

  • Canadian Bill of Rights

    In 1960 Prime Minister John Diefenbaker enacted the Canadian Bill of Rights, which was the country’s first federal law to protect human rights and fundamental freedoms. The bill was aimed at protecting individuals' rights to freedoms and protection of one's person. The bill was limited as it was only applied to federal laws and didn't hold any provincial status.

  • Ontario Human Rights Code

    The Ontario Human Rights Code was the first human rights code within Canada. This Code prohibits the discrimination of people who are a part of protected groups within a social area. Some groups include age, ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, disabilities, offense records (only for certain jobs), and family status to name a few. Protected social areas include accommodation and housing, employment, membership in unions, goods, services, and facilities, along with contracts.

  • Royal Commission on the Status of Women

    Established by Prime Minister Lester Pearson in response to a months-long campaign surrounding the status of women which was made up of 32 women's groups led by Laura Sabia. Sabia joining the 32 groups and threatening to march onto Parliament Hill accompanied by 2 million women pushed the PM to start up the commission. This commission provided an overview of the status of women in Canada and included 167 recommendations on how to stop gender inequality within Canadian society.

  • Immigration Act

    The Immigration Act was the first immigration act to specifically outline the objectives of Canada’s immigration policy and lay out a plan for the future of immigration. The act was made up of nearly 65 recommendations for the structure of the Canadian immigration system. This system was made up of a point system based on skills, education, and people's language fluency.

  • Canadian Official Language Act

    The Official Languages Act recognized English and French as Canada’s two official languages. It makes sure that all federal government communications, services, and public documents are available in both languages. The Act has been revised several times, first in 1988, then in 2005, and 2023 which strengthened bilingual policies and ensured equal language rights. The Act has helped French immersion programs sprout in English-speaking provinces, which helps encourage bilingualism in Canada.

  • Canadian Human Rights Act

    The Canadian Human Rights Act was designed to protect people from discrimination and encourage equality under federal jurisdiction. This Act applies to federal government agencies, government businesses, etc. but it is not as broad as the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms which covers all levels of government. The Act protects people from discrimination due to race, national/ethnic origin, colour, age, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, etc.

  • Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

    The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is an important building block to Canadian law and society. It has protected individual rights, affirmed the balance of power between government and the court systems, and reshaped many areas of Canadian life since its adoption in 1982.

  • Big M Drug Mart

    Big M Drug Mart was accused of violating the Lord's Day Act by being open on a Sunday, which forbids businesses from operating on Sundays. On April 24, 1985, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the Lord's Day Act contrasted with the freedom of religion guaranteed by Section 2 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. As a result, the law was deemed non - functioning under Section 52 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

  • R. v Oaks

    Oaks was accused of drug possession with the presumed intent to traffic. The Supreme Court faced a tough decision, as the Narcotic Control Act's section 8 contradicted section 11 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which states that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. The Court concluded that section 8 did not sufficiently establish a connection between possession and trafficking, meaning the criteria for limiting Oaks' rights under section 1 of the Charter were not met.

  • Abortion Rights

    Before 1969, it was illegal for medical professionals to perform or induce abortions. That year, abortion was legalized only if the pregnancy endangered the woman's health or life, requiring approval from multiple doctors.
    In 1988 The Supreme Court found that criminalizing abortion violated Section 7 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which ensures women's rights to “life, liberty, and security of the person.”

  • Employment Equality Rights

    The Employment Equality Act makes sure there is equality in the workplace and in the hiring process. No one can be denied employment benefits or opportunities due to any reason but their ability to do their job. This was set in place due to women, Indigenous peoples, and people with disabilities getting unfair treatment in the employment world.

  • Delgamuukw v. British Columbia

    The case was brought by the Gitxsan and Wet'suwet'en Nations, who pursued their right to land in British Columbia. They argued that they never surrendered their land through treaty and that they maintained a steady connection to the land through their traditional practices. The case was significant in helping shape the legal understanding of Indigenous rights within Canada, specifically land claims.

  • Vriend v. Alberta

    Delwin Vriend was terminated from his position as a teacher at King's College because of his sexual orientation. This case was appealed to the Supreme Court where they reiterated that sexual orientation should be protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This case shows people's rights to not be discriminated against due to their sexual orientation or other factors.

  • R. v Marshall

    Mi'kmaq fisherman Donald Marshall's case centered on his right to fish and sell under the 1760–61 treaties with the British Crown. He was charged with fishing without a license, selling eels illegally, and using unlawful nets during closed fishing season. Marshall argued these actions were protected by the treaty allowing Mi'kmaq people to earn a "moderate livelihood" through fishing and hunting, which the Supreme Court upheld.

  • Same Sex Marriage

    British Columbia and Ontario were the first provinces to legalize same-sex marriage in 2003. Then in July of 2005, the Civil Marriage Act was endorsed as federally legalizing same-sex marriage within all of Canada. This Act also required the change of "husband" and "wife" to all-inclusive terms such as "spouse" to be more compatible with LGBTQ+ partners.

  • Truth and Reconciliation Commission

    The Truth and Reconciliation Commission or TRC was established because of the Indian Residential School Settlement Agreement which was created to address the horror of Residential Schools in Canada. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission wanted to educate all of Canada about the monstrosities that happened within and after the Residential Schools while gifting a platform to survivors and their families to talk about and share their experiences.