“It’s becoming more and more clear that the Conservatives did
not intend this to be a Canadian citizenship guide, but instead
a Conservative citizenship guide,” says gay Liberal MP Scott
Brison. ”Canada’s Charter of Rights has helped make Canada one
of the most progressive societies in the world and a magnet for
those seeking equality. The Charter is not a buffet. You can’t
take from it the rights you like and ignore the rest.” For the
record, the portion of the citizenship guide that covers the
Charter reads as follows. The Constitution of Canada was amended
in 1982 to entrench the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms,
which begins with the words, “Whereas Canada is founded upon
principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of
law.” This phrase underlines the importance of religious
traditions to Canadian society and the dignity and worth of the
human person. The Charter attempts to summarize fundamental
freedoms while also setting out additional rights. The most
important of these include: