1E9Ct5D

THE CANADIAN POLITICAL ANDJUDICIAL SYSTEMSCanada has a parliamentary system of democratic government. A formerdominion of Great Britain, Canada is a constitutional monarchy, its head ofstate being the Queen of Canada, Queen Elizabeth II, who is also Queen ofBritain, Australia, New Zealand and a number of other Commonwealthnations.Under the Constitution Act, 1867, powers and responsibilities are divided between the federalgovernment and the 10 provincial governments, with the federal government retainingjurisdiction over the three territories. The federal list of powers under the Constitution generallyrelates to national matters, such as the regulation of trade and commerce, criminal law andprocedure, direct and indirect taxation, banking, currency, defence, navigation and shipping,patents and copyrights. The provincial list of powers is generally concerned with local matters,such as municipal institutions, local works and undertakings, education, direct taxation, theadministration of justice, property and civil rights, and matters of a merely local and privatenature in the province (including internal trade issues). The Constitution also provides forconcurrent federal and provincial jurisdiction in a number of areas, including health, theenvironment, agriculture and immigration.An important element of the Constitution is the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,which was adopted in 1982. The Charter guarantees a series of rights and freedoms, subjectonly to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free anddemocratic society. Among the rights and freedoms contained in the Charter are:Fundamental freedoms, including freedom of conscience and religion; freedom ofthought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other mediaof communication; freedom of peaceful assembly; and, freedom of association;Democratic rights, such as the right of citizens to vote in elections for members of theHouse of Commons and legislative assemblies;Mobility rights, including the right to live and to seek employment anywhere in Canada;Equality rights;Legal rights, such as the right to be secure against unreasonable search or seizure;Language rights, such as the right to use either of Canada's official languages and theright of French and English linguistic minorities to an education in their language; andProtections for aboriginal peoples' pre-existing rights.Introduction 10