Lesson 2 Inquiry
Completion requirements
Inquiry
Our Rights in Canada
This chapter focusses on me and we rights.
Some people focus on what makes an individual special. They recognize a person for achieving goals and accomplishments. Talking is important so that a person's voice is heard and the person stands out. A 'me' society does not focus on what is important to the group. Canada has 'me' or individual rights.
Other people consider themselves part of a group. They focus on their role in the extended family, with friends, or in community. Getting along with others through listening and building trust are important for them to live peacefully. Conflicts and open discussions are avoided. Consensus (or everyone in the group agreeing) is valued. Canada also has group or collective rights.
Some people focus on what makes an individual special. They recognize a person for achieving goals and accomplishments. Talking is important so that a person's voice is heard and the person stands out. A 'me' society does not focus on what is important to the group. Canada has 'me' or individual rights.
Other people consider themselves part of a group. They focus on their role in the extended family, with friends, or in community. Getting along with others through listening and building trust are important for them to live peacefully. Conflicts and open discussions are avoided. Consensus (or everyone in the group agreeing) is valued. Canada also has group or collective rights.
Me
or We 
or We Canada has both personal (individual) and group (collective) rights in the first part of its Constitution called The Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
The Constitution requires governments to make decisions in a fair way for both individuals and groups. If governments make laws that go against Charter rights, the court refuses to let the laws stand.
Read about some of these rights and responsibilities below. You will likely take a few days to understand fully the information you will learn in this lesson.
Consider the following questions during your inquiry:
The Constitution requires governments to make decisions in a fair way for both individuals and groups. If governments make laws that go against Charter rights, the court refuses to let the laws stand.
Read about some of these rights and responsibilities below. You will likely take a few days to understand fully the information you will learn in this lesson.
Consider the following questions during your inquiry:
- What are individual rights?
- What are collective rights?
- What specific rights are included in the Charter?
Resources for Inquiry
- Textbook
- Read pages 30 – 34.
- Library Books
- Look for information about the rights of Canadians.
- Websites
- Canada: The Road to Democracy - here
- An Explanation of Charter Rights By Students - Overview of the Charter
- Pierre Eliot Trudeau The Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- John Humphrey Centre Youth Guide to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- Virtual Charter – you can zoom in on the exact words of the Charter
- Know Your Rights: Canada Charter of Rights and Freedoms – brief YouTube video identifying the basic rights
Individual rights are rights given to each person. They are rights to live peacefully without interference from other people or the government. Examples of these are rights to life, freedom, and safety, freedom of conscience and democratic rights.
Canada has a long history of individual rights growing out of the Magna Carta in Britain.
The idea of collective rights has increased over the last fifty years. For many Indigenous peoples their identity is connected to the group. Therefore, Indigenous peoples asked for protection of their collective rights as a group. The United Nations, and consequently governments like Canada have created documents that would guarantee the freedom for and protection of the needs of Indigenous peoples. For a review of Canadian rights click here.
Notebook
When you feel confident about the information you explored in this inquiry, complete the Lesson 2 Self-Check on the following page.