The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects a number of rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression and the right to equality. It forms part of our Constitution – the highest law in all of Canada – and is one of our country’s greatest accomplishments.
Every year on April 17, we celebrate the anniversary of the Charter which was signed in 1982.
Watch the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada speak about the 39th anniversary of the Charter:
Hello. Today, we celebrate the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms — an essential part of our constitution for almost 40 years.
I like to call myself a child of the Charter. This foundational document was born while I was in university. It has been an inspiration throughout my career. And while I eventually became the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Charter has grown into one of our most important national symbols. It even beat out hockey and the beaver in one survey.
I am fortunate to speak three languages, but our Charter is truly multilingual. It has been translated into 23 languages, including Braille versions in English and French.
And it has traveled far as well, inspiring other nations’ foundational laws, and literally making it into space. Marc Garneau, a former astronaut and now our Minister of Global Affairs, brought it on one of his missions.
The Charter is important to our values, and to Canadians, and it is central to our work here at Justice Canada. We are working hard to protect your rights and freedoms, and the Charter is too.
Happy 39th birthday, good friend. Thank you for all that you do for Canadians.
