Canadian Human Rights Timeline

  • Women’s Voting Rights

    The movement for women suffrage began in the late 19th century, with advocates pushing for equal voting rights. In 1916, Manitoba became the first province to grant women the right to vote and provincial elections. By 1918, the federal government passed legislation, allowing women to vote in federal elections.
  • Persons Case

    The person’s case is a landmark legal decision in Canada that address the issue of women’s rights. In 1929, the judicial committee of the privy council wrote that women were considered “persons” under Canadian law, allowing them to be appointed to the Senate. This case emerged from the effects of the Famous Five, a group of activists, who challenged the interpretation of the word “persons” in the British North America Act.
  • Indian Act Revisions of 1951

    The Indian Act Revisions of 1951 marked a significant change in the legal framework governing Indigenous peoples in Canada. These revisions, and to address some of the more restrictive aspects of the criminal act, which had been enacted in 1876. Key changes included the removal of certain discriminatory provisions, such as the ban on Indigenous, cultural practices and ceremonies.
  • Canadian Bill of Rights

    The Canadian bill of rights, enacted in 1960, was a significant step forward in the protection of individual rights and freedoms in Canada. It was the first federal law to recognize and protect human, right at the national level, outlining fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of speech, religion, and assembly. The bill aimed to safeguard individuals from discrimination based on race, gender, or religion, among other grounds. It applied only to federal laws and not provincial legislation.
  • Indigenous Canadians Voting Rights

    Indigenous Canadians faced significant barriers to voting rates for many years. Although some Indigenous individuals could vote in federal elections before 1960, it was often contingent on renouncing their Indian status. The Indian Act initially excluded many Indigenous peoples from participating in the electoral process. It wasn’t until 1960 that the Canadian government granted Indigenous Canadians the right to vote in federal elections without any restrictions.
  • Ontario Human Rights Code

    The Ontario Human Rights Code is a vital piece of legislation that aims to protect individuals from discrimination and harassment in various areas of public life, including employment, housing, and services. Enacted in 1962, the code prohibits discrimination based on several grounds, such as race, gender, age, disability, and sexual orientation. It establishes the framework for addressing human rights complaints no promotes equality and respect for all individuals in Ontario.
  • Immigration Act of 1967

    The Immigration Act of 1967 was a landmark piece of legislation that significantly changed Canada’s immigration policy. Input introduced a points-based system for assessing potential immigrants, focusing on skills, education, and work experience rather than ethnicity or national origin. This shit aimed to create a more equitable and merit-based immigration process, allowing for greater diversity within Canadian society.
  • Canadian Official Languages Act

    The Canadian Official Languages Act was first enacted in 1969 to recognize the equal status of English and French in Canada. This legislation aimed to promote bilingualism in federal institutions, and ensure that all Canadians could access government services in both languages. The act has undergone several revisions, with the most significant update in 1988, which reinforced the commitment to linguistic of duality and the rights of minority language communities.
  • Royal Commission on the Status of Women

    The Royal Commission on the Status of Women was established in Canada in 1970 to investigate and address issues related to gender equality. It aimed to examine the social, legal, and economic status of women in the country and to make recommendations for improving their rights and opportunities. The commissions report, Released in 1970, highlighted significant this parties in areas, such as employment, education, and healthcare.
  • Canadian Human Rights Act

    The Canadian Human Rights Act was enacted in 1977 to protect individuals from discrimination and to promote equality in various areas, such as, employment and services. It applies to federal government departments and agencies, and federally regulated industries. The act prohibits discrimination, based on several ground, such as race, gender, disability, and sexual orientation. It established The Canadian human rights commission, which investigates complaints and ensures compliance with the law.
  • Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

    The Canadian charter of rights and freedoms, and acted in 1982, is a fundamental part of Canada is constitution that guarantees various civil liberties and rights to all Canadians. It protects rights, such as freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, and the right to a fair trial. The charter also ensure equal protection under the law without discrimination based on factors, like race, gender, or disability.
  • Big M Drug Mart

    Big M Drug Mart. V . Canada what is a landmark Supreme Court case that address the issue of freedom of expression under the Canadian charter of rights and freedoms. The case involves a drugstore that was charged for selling products at a discount, which was prohibited by the federal drug act. The supreme court ruled that the law infringed on the stores right to free expression, as pricing strategies can be considered a form of communication.
  • R. V. Oakes

    Oakes was charged with unlawful possession of a narcotic for the purpose of trafficking. Oakes argued that s. 8 of the Narcotic Control Act violated the presumption of innocence contained in s. l l (d) of the charter. Both the trial judge and the Ontario Court of Appeal upheld Oakes’s Charter claim. The Court of Appeal wrote that the “reverse onus” in s. 8 of the Narcotic Control Act was unconstitutional.
  • Canadian Employment Equality Act

    The Canadian employment equality act was a significant piece of legislation aimed at addressing systemic discrimination in the workplace. It required employers in the federal public service and federally regulated industries to take proactive measures to ensure equal employment opportunities for women, indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, and visible minorities. The act mandated the establishment of employment equity plans to identify and eliminate barriers faced by these groups.
  • Abortion Rights

    In 1988, the Supreme Court of Canada made a significant ruling in the case of R. V. morgentaler, which shut down the existing federal abortion law as unconstitutional. The court determined that the log violated a woman’s right to security of the Person under section 7 of the Canadian charter of rights and freedoms. This decision effectively decriminalized abortion in Canada, allowing women to make their own choices regarding their reproductive health without restrictive legal barriers.
  • Delgamuukw V. British Columbia

    Delgamuukw V. British Columbia was a landmark Supreme Court case that addressed Indigenous plans rights in Canada. The court ruled that Indigenous peoples have the right to assert land claims based on their traditional use and occupancy, even if those grades were not formally recognized by the government. This decision empathized the importance of oral histories and Indigenous legal traditions in establishing land rights.
  • Vriend V. Alberta

    Vriend V. Alberta was A landmark case in which the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the exclusion of sexual orientation from the Alberta individual rights, protection act constituted discrimination. The case involved Delvin Vriend, who was fired from his job because of his sexual orientation and sought protection under the act.
  • R. V. Marshall

    R. V. Marshall what is the significant supreme court case that addressed Indigenous fishing rights in Canada. The court ruled in favour of Donald Marshall Jr., an Indigenous man who was charged for fishing years without a license, asserting that he had the right to fish for a moderate livelihood under a treaty signed in 1760. this decision affirmed the importance of historical treaties, and the rights of Indigenous peoples to access natural resources.
  • Same Sex Marriage

    Same-sex marriage in Canada was legalized in 2005, making it one of the first countries in the world to grant marriage rights to same-sex couples nationwide. The journey to word legalization began with court rulings in the early 2000s, which recognized the rate of same-sex couples to marry. The landmark case of Halpern V. Canada I’m 2003 played a significant role in this progression, As it challenged the definition of marriage under Canadian law.
  • Truth and Reconciliation Commission

    Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in Canada was established in 2008 to address the legacy of residential schools and their impact on Indigenous peoples. Its primary goal was to document the experiences of the survivors and promote healing and reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians. The TRC produced a comprehensive report in 2015, outlining 94 calls to action aimed at fostering understanding, repairing relationships, and addressing the injustices faced.