Laws & Human Rights
Canadian Human Right Act
Your rights and freedoms
No matter what your immigration status is, you have certain rights and freedoms when you live in Canada. They are written in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. They include:
Canada is a democratic society of rights and freedoms for all people. Police, firefighters, commissioners and other people of authority are there to help people.
No person in Canada has the right to:
Prohibited grounds of discrimination are:
Your rights and freedoms
No matter what your immigration status is, you have certain rights and freedoms when you live in Canada. They are written in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. They include:
- Freedom of conscience and religion (the right to follow your religious beliefs)
- Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication (the right to express your opinions)
- freedom of peaceful assembly (the right to gather for peaceful meetings or events)
- freedom of association (the freedom to be with other people you choose)
- Permanent residents also have the right to mobility, which means you may move from one area of the province or country to another.
- The Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees that that every person in Canada is treated equally, no matter what their race, religion, national or ethnic origin, colour, gender, age or physical or mental disability.
- The rights and freedoms in the Charter and Rights and Freedoms are not absolute. They may be limited to protect other people’s rights or important national values. For example, freedom of expression may be limited by laws against hate propaganda. Freedom of religion may be limited in cases where religious practices violate Canada’s laws.
Canada is a democratic society of rights and freedoms for all people. Police, firefighters, commissioners and other people of authority are there to help people.
- The legal voting age (age of majority) in Canada is 18.
- It is illegal to drive without a driver's licence, registration and insurance or under the influence of alcohol. The minimum age to obtain a driver permit is 16. A driving permit may be obtained from Service New Brunswick. The driver and all passengers must wear seat belts at all times when driving in Canada. Babies and children who are too small to wear seat belts must be placed in properly installed infant or chiId car seats, appropriate to the age and weight of the child.
- In New Brunswick, people must be 19 years old to buy or drink alcohol in any form.
- It is against the law to hit one's spouse or children, either in the home or in public.
- It is illegal to use, buy or sell marijuana, heroin, cocaïne and other addictive drugs.
- It is illegal to make any kind of sexual remarks or advances if the other person does not like them.
No person in Canada has the right to:
- restrict your mobility in Canada;
- take or keep your passport, PR card or other documentation from you;
- force you to work for free; or
- force you to work at a rate of pay below the minimum wage in your province.
Prohibited grounds of discrimination are:
- Race, color, national origin, place of origin, ancestry
- Religion, age, marital status
- Sex, sexual orientation
- Physical or mental disability
- Social condition
- Political belief or activity
