-
Women's Voting Rights: Early Provincial Achievements
On January 28, 1916, Manitoba became the first Canadian province to grant women the right to vote. This groundbreaking achievement sparked a wave of reforms, with Saskatchewan and Alberta following later that year. These early successes were driven by the tireless efforts of suffragists advocating for gender equality. Provincial suffrage began to pave the way for broader changes at the national level. This marked the start of women gaining a political voice in Canada. -
Women’s Voting Rights: Federal Suffrage
On May 24, 1918, most Canadian women won the right to vote in federal elections. This decision was a major victory for the suffrage movement, enabling women to influence national policies. However, not all women were included; Indigenous women and certain other groups were still an exception. The federal suffrage expanded women’s political rights beyond provincial borders and was a critical step toward achieving complete political equality in Canada. -
Persons Case
The Persons Case was a pivotal moment in women’s rights in Canada. The case involved a legal challenge to whether women could be appointed to the Senate. The Supreme Court initially ruled that women were not “persons” under the law. However, on appeal, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in Britain reversed this decision, ruling that women could indeed be considered persons and eligible for Senate appointments. This decision was a milestone in the fight for women’s equality in Canada. -
Women’s Voting Rights: Quebec
Quebec was the last province to grant women the right to vote on April 25, 1940. This ended the long struggle for suffrage across Canada, ensuring all women could vote in provincial and federal elections. The delay in Quebec was due to strong opposition from conservative and religious groups. The eventual victory in Quebec signified the completion of a nationwide movement for women’s electoral rights. It confirmed that Canadian women, regardless of province, had full voting rights. -
Indian Act Revisions
The Indian Act (first established in 1876) was revised in 1951 to remove many of its more discriminatory provisions. The revisions allowed Indigenous peoples to engage in cultural practices like the potlatch and Sun Dance, which had previously been banned. The amendments also provided for Indigenous women to vote in band elections, a right that had been denied before. Despite this, the Act continued to restrict the rights of Indigenous peoples, like their self-governance and land rights. -
Indigenous Canadians' Voting Rights
Before 1960, Indigenous Canadians weren't allowed to vote in federal elections unless they gave up their treaty rights/assimilated into mainstream Canadian society. In 1960, the Canadian government passed legislation granting all Indigenous peoples the right to vote without such conditions. This marked a step towards the recognition of Indigenous Canadians as full citizens with voting rights. Albeit many Indigenous communities still faced barriers to voting (limited access to polling stations). -
Canadian Bill of Rights
The Canadian Bill of Rights was introduced by PM John Diefenbaker as a federal law to protect individual freedoms and human rights. It affirmed fundamental rights such as freedom of speech, religion, and the right to equal treatment under the law but was proven to be ineffective as it applied to federal statutes, not provincial ones. The bill was cited in 32 cases between 1960 and 1982, in which thirty of them were rejected. It was replaced by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982. -
Ontario Human Rights Code
Passed in 1962, Ontario’s Human Rights Code was the first of its kind in Canada, prohibiting discrimination in areas, like employment, housing, and public services. The Code created the Ontario Human Rights Commission to oversee complaints/ensure compliance. It addressed issues such as race/ethnicity, religion, and disability. The code also protects various aspects such as age, gender, sex, family status, accommodation, and contracts. This Code became a model for other provinces to follow. -
Royal Commission on the Status of Women
The Royal Commission on the Status of Women (established in 1967), addressed issues of gender inequality. The idea behind this was to gather information on the status of women in Canada and recommend solutions to the federal government to ensure women's equality in society. The findings revealed widespread discrimination in employment, education, and family law. The Commission then recommended policies to the government for equal pay, better childcare, and more women in leadership roles. -
Immigration Act
The Immigration Act of 1967, passed on October 24, introduced a points-based system that emphasized skills and education over racial background. These points were based on traits like education, age, occupational skills, character, ability to speak English and French, and employment prospects. This reform ended the racially discriminatory practices that had existed in previous immigration laws. It allowed more non-European immigrants to enter Canada, significantly diversifying the population. -
Canadian Official Languages Act (OLA)
The Canadian Official Languages Act, passed in 1969, made English and French the official languages of Canada. This legislation ensured that both languages would have equal status in federal institutions, including Parliament, federal laws, and courts. It allowed Canadians to communicate with federal institutions in the official language of their choice. The Act marked Canada’s commitment to bilingualism and provided greater equality between English and French speakers. -
Canadian Human Rights Act
The Canadian Human Rights Act was passed on July 14, 1977, to provide protection against discrimination in federally regulated areas. The Act created the Canadian Human Rights Commission to investigate and resolve complaints of discrimination. It prohibits discrimination based on race, sex, disability, and age. This Act ensured that people were guaranteed a way to contest discriminatory actions. -
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Enacted on April 17, 1982, the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees individual rights as part of the highest law in Canada. It has caused a social and legal revolution, expanding rights and freedoms for all citizens. The Charter ensures protection from abuse by authorities, offering greater rights to minorities and criminal defendants. It provides fundamental freedoms, such as freedom of expression, and guarantees equality before the law. -
Big M Drug Mart
In 1985, the Supreme Court ruled in Big M Drug Mart Ltd. v. Canada that the federal Lord's Day Act, which required businesses to close on Sundays, violated freedom of religion. The Court held that the law infringed on religious freedoms guaranteed under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This decision marked a significant milestone in protecting individual rights from government interference and in Canadian constitutional law, as the ruling affirmed the separation of church and state. -
Canadian Employment Equity Act
The Canadian Employment Equity Act (passed in 1986,) aimed to create equal employment opportunities for four groups historically discriminated against: women, Indigenous peoples, people with disabilities, and visible minorities. The Act required employers in federally regulated industries to take proactive steps to remove barriers and ensure fair representation of these groups in the workforce. In 1996, Canada's federal public service became subject to this Act. -
R. v. Oakes
In this case Oakes got charged with possession of narcotics. It was shown that Oakes had too much quantities of it for medical use and the court concluded he was distributing them. Oakes claimed he had the right to remain innocent until proven otherwise, but the court did something called a "reverse onus" The crown appealed to the Supreme Court, who agreed to override these rights to protect Canadian citizens. However, the case didn't meet all the criteria, and was dismissed. -
Abortion Rights
Before 1988, abortion was illegal in Canada, only wa permitted if it threatened a woman's life. But in "R. v. Morgentaler" (1988), the Supreme Court ruled that the abortion provisions in the Criminal Code were unconstitutional, as they violated a woman's right to life, liberty, and security under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This decision decriminalized abortion, ensuring women could make their own reproductive choices without government interference. -
Delgamuukw v. British Columbia
The Delgamuukw v. British Columbia case in 1997 raised important questions about the definition/extent of Aboriginal title. The Gitxsan and Wet'suwet'en nations had tried to negotiate land ownership with the BC government but were repeatedly rejected. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Aboriginal title is an ancestral right protected by the Constitution Act (1982). This decision affirmed the legal recognition of Indigenous land rights set a precedent for future land claims negotiations. -
Vriend v. Alberta
Delwin Vriend, a university employee, was fired from his job at a Christian college in 1991 after the school discovered he was gay. The college claimed he violated their policy on homosexual practices. Vriend argued that his dismissal was discrimination based on sexual orientation, which was not covered by Alberta’s Human Rights Act at the time. The Supreme Court of Canada ruled in 1998 that sexual orientation must be included as a prohibited ground of discrimination. -
R. V. Marshall
Donald Marshall, a Mi'kmaq man, was charged in 1993 for catching and selling eels using an illegal fishing net and without a fishing license. He was found guilty, but the case was appealed to the Supreme Court. The Court recognized that hunting and fishing rights were promised in the 1760 treaty between the Mi'kmaq people and the British government. In 1999, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Marshall, affirming that Indigenous peoples have the right to fish for food under treaty agreements. -
Same Sex Marriage
Same-sex marriage was first legalized in Ontario and British Columbia in 2003. In 2005, the federal Civil Marriage Act was passed, making same-sex marriage legal nationwide. This made Canada the third country in the world, after the Netherlands and Belgium, to legalize same-sex marriage. The law granted same-sex couples the same legal rights as heterosexual couples. The legalization was a significant step in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and equality in Canada. -
Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) was established in 2008 to allow survivors of residential schools to share their experiences. The Canadian government provided approximately $72 million to support the commission’s work. It engages with the public educates Canadians about the history/legacy of residential schools. It promotes healing and reconciliation between Indigenous communities and Canadian society. This has been crucial in showing the impacts of the residential school system.