Our Rights and Freedoms

In Our Rights and Freedoms, Aaron W. Hughes recounts the complex and fascinating history of Canada's Charter, revealing how it has forever changed the political, legal, and social lives of Canadians. Written for a general audience, this biography looks at Canada's legal foundations prior to the Charter's enactment in 1982, examines the historical origins and language of the Charter, and traces its reception, interpretation, and influence over the ensuing decades, including its global influence as a model for emerging democracies. The story of the Charter's inspiration, creation, contestation, and adaptation recounts the narrative of a living text whose course has shaped and defined modern Canada, sometimes in unexpected ways. Informed by deep research and written with narrative flair, this book is the essential guide to understanding the document that defines what it means to be Canadian. The fascinating history of Canada's Charter shows how it has forever changed the political, legal, and social lives of Canadians. The fascinating history of Canada's Charter shows how it has forever changed the political, legal, and social lives of Canadians. Timeline, suggested reading, appendix, index "An approachable and readable but reliable book about Canada's Charter is overdue and here it is! Aaron Hughes has rescued this vital document from the lawyers and the politicians so that citizens can understand what rights they have and use the Charter to defend their freedoms." Michael Ignatieff
"With this rich but accessible 'biography' of the Charter, Hughes offers Canadians a better understanding of the history, context, and workings of this critical constitutional document and, with it, deeper appreciation of our contemporary political and legal lives. Our Rights and Freedoms is a caringly written contribution to the civic health of the country." Benjamin L. Berger, Osgoode Hall Law School, York University

• Timeline: Key Dates in the Lead Up to the Charter (and a few thereafter)

• Table One: How and Where Does the Charter of Rights and Freedoms Fit Within the Constitution?

• Introduction

• PART 1 Larger Contexts

• Chapter 1 Constitutions and Bills of Rights

• Chapter 2 A Country at the Abyss

• Chapter 3 How Did the Charter Come to Be?

• PART 2 The Charter of Rights and Freedoms

• Chapter 4 Contents

• Chapter 5 Application

• Chapter 6 Outliers

• Chapter 7 Global Influence

• Conclusions

• Appendix: The Full Text of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms

• Index