Unit 2: Human RightsCh. 7 – Democratic, Mobility and Legal Rights

Democratic Rights Every citizen has the right to vote (most fundamental democratic

right Section 3) and to run for elected office.

Suffragists

Women who advocated the right to vote

The Citizenship Act The Parliament of Canada has enacted legislation (The

Citizenship Act) setting requirements to be considered a Canadian.

The Citizenship Act States: Canadian citizens are those who were born in Canada,

or born outside Canada to Canadian citizens, or who have been granted citizenship under the Act and have taken the oath of citizenship.

Becoming Canadian

Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act

On June 19, 2014, the Strengthening Canadian Citizenship Act received Royal Assent and became law. The changes are the first comprehensive reforms to the Citizenship Act since 1977 with a range of legislative amendments to further improve the citizenship program. A number of changes came into effect on June 19, 2014, including: fast-tracking citizenship for members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF); improving clarity on the first generation limit on citizenship for those born

abroad; extending the exception to the first generation limit to ensure the children of

Crown servants can pass on citizenship; and moving the decision-making authority for discretionary citizenship grants to

the Minister, which improves applicant service by eliminating an extra step. Source: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/cit-changes.asp

Determine your eligibility – Citizenship

(Source: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/become-eligibility.asp) To be considered for Canadian citizenship, you must meet all the following conditions:

age, permanent resident status, time you have lived in Canada (residence), income tax filing, intent to reside, language skills, how well you know Canada, and prohibitions.

If you have served in or with the Canadian Armed Forces, you might be able to apply through a fast-track process.

Mobility Rights The rights to enter, remain in, or leave the country. The rights to move freely, take up residence and work within the

country. Section 6 of the charter recognizes the right of Canadians and

permanent residents of Canada to reside and work in any province.

Section 6 - Mobility Rights Every citizen of Canada has the right to enter, remain in, and leave, Canada. Every citizen of Canada and every person who has the status of a permanent

resident of Canada has the right: to move to, and take up residence in, any province, and to pursue the gaining of a livelihood in any province.

The rights specified in subsection (2) are subject to: any laws or practices of general application in force in a province other than those that

discriminate among persons primarily on the basis of province of present or previous residence; and

any laws providing for reasonable residency requirements as a qualification for the receipt of publicly provided social services.

Subsections (2) and (3) do not preclude any law, program or activity that has as its object the amelioration in a province of conditions of individuals in that province who are socially or economically disadvantaged if the rate of employment in that province is below the rate of employment in Canada.

Legal Rights

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