Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Rights and freedoms in Canada

1. The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantees the rights and freedoms set out in it subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.

Fundamental freedoms

2. Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:
(a) freedom of conscience and religion;
(b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication;
(c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and
(d) freedom of association.

Equality before and under law and equal protection and benefit of law

15. (1) Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.

Here's a quote from the Vancouver Sun

"Fundamentalist Mormons have already won the right to testify anonymously and behind screens in the reference case to determine whether the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom includes the practice of polygamy."

Now, am I the only person who sees the irony????

Why would anyone, in a country with such great freedoms, need to win the right to testify anonymously and behind screens? If we were truly free, and all citizens had equal protection under the law, why would anyone need to testify in anonymity? If so the Charter really can't mean all that much, can it? There's nothing quite like a political snow screen!


To read more of the article from the Vancouver Sun
http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Polygamists+want+testify+only+their+terms/3787843/story.html#ixzz14YD43n5e