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Documents & Dialogue
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Canadian Law
If you are voted into power, your party's priorities and values will steer Canada's justice system. You will administer existing Canadian legislation, and you will have an opportunity to create new laws. Your decisions will represent a historical legacy and may influence Canada's development for generations to come.
Use Further Research and Canadian Documents to help you with the activities below.
Activity 7: Law of the Land
Compose Your Thoughts
Form assigning legal powers to James Reid of Montréal, January 16, 1806
[ Source ]
The balance between the rights of the majority and those of the minority can be delicate. As a political party, what are your top priorities? Nationalized daycare? Defence spending? Tax controls? Controls over public expression? Border security? What laws would you enact to address your top priorities? Consider disciplinary actions that would go along with your laws. What long-term effects could you predict as a result of your new laws? Would your laws affect all citizens equally?
In 250 words, your challenge is to consider the questions above and present your platform on legal protection or enforcement of a particular issue at the forefront of your campaign.
Activity 8: Fundamental Freedoms
Take a look at the Constitution Act, 1982 [http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/const/index.html] and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms [http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/const/index.html]. Consider how these constitutional documents relate to the policies you developed in the activity "Polling Canadians". What aspects of the Constitution or the Charter does your party support or oppose?
Compose Your Thoughts
Notice warning people of the legal consequences of trespassing and stealing wood from lands rented by the Forges du Saint-Maurice at Trois-Rivières, Quebec, December 13, 1819
[ Source ]
Uphold the Constitution!
Imagine another party wants to change parts of these Constitutional documents. Based on your party's policies, defend Canada's constitutional documents as they are currently written.
Change the Constitution!
What would you change, add, or remove from Canada's constitutional documents? How would these modifications change the government's role in Canadian society? Keep in mind any potential results (positive and negative) that could occur as a result of your new constitutional policies.
Create a new Constitution!
Look at the historical documents in the Canadian Documents section. Based on some of the issues addressed in those documents, write a Constitution or Charter that will establish fundamental rules and political principles for all Canadians.
Execution of Stanislaus Lacroix, Hull, Quebec, March 21, 1902 [ Source ]
Explore The Canadian State Political Library, a digital collection of historical books related to Canadian politics and government.
