Is Canada A Just Society Essay

n response to the criticisms of those who are anti-judicial activism, “supporters of judicial activism say such activism through judicial review is necessary because it allows the courts to step in and fill gaps in the law where minorities are not protected because of political pressures and where politicians are afraid to legislate” . This raises the argument that judges and the judiciary play a balanced activist legislative role in such a way that it protects the rights of minorities from legislation or regulation imposed by the government. Within our democratic system, legislators will pay attention to what the majority wants and they will pursue public policies, which favour the majority. This leaves minority interests vulnerable to the legislations and regulations imposed by the government. By playing an active role, the judiciary ensures that the rights of the minorities are protected and that law does not contravene with the Charter of Human Rights and the Constitution of Canada. Through this kind of judicial activism, the courts strike a balance with the legislatures role. This is not to say that the judiciary takes on the role of policymaking and the legislature, but rather that both institutions embrace what is referred to as a “dialogue” where there is a balance between judicial decision-making and legislative-executive decision making . However, according to MacKay, “it is legitimate for the courts to engage in a form of judicial policy making so long as they do

Lately Canada has done a lot with the United Nations in protecting human rights, including communicating with countries and organizations to increase the rights of women and children. There have been many improvements to their rights and conditions; political prisoners have been freed from the trap

“The spirit of democracy cannot be imposed from without. It has to come from within”. (Gandhi) A lawful and fair democracy is one that represents the people, where the will of the people is done not where the government’s will is enforced. Here in Canada we believe a democratic government is well suited for its people but like any other system it has its flaws. This country was a model democracy. Canada’s wealth, respect for legal, human and civil rights almost promises that this country has the potential to uphold a legitimate democracy. Reading headlines today concerning the state of democracy in Canada we can see how our political system is slipping. A democracy should uphold the rights of its people rather than the rights of a

Canada as a just society has changed a lot throughout the years, Canada has and still is a discriminative place but I believe it has definitely improved but there are still changes that need to be made. However,As said Canada has changed for the better andit has improved a lot since her older days, and not everything will always be perfect, a conflict will always arise and maybe we cannot always solve the problem. Canadian identity has been working towards a just society but it has been negatively affected by how they have treated minorities in World War One, with aboriginals in residential schools, the enactment of the War Measures Act in a time of peace and the continued LGBTQ discrimination.

Pierre Trudeau was Canada’s leading activist for equalizing the rights gap between men and women in the 1960’s. Specifically, he agreed with the Canadians who wanted birth control as a contraceptive to be legalized. Also, he fought for both genders to be part of the Canadian government. Furthermore, he was an underlying compeller who wanted people’s rights to be accepted and acknowledged by the government. His take on society differed from past governments; and since he was a figure of authority at that time in Canada’s political history, Canadians would listen to him and respect the decisions he made as a politician to create a positive outcome on his nation.

“We must now establish the basic principles, the basic values and beliefs which hold us together as Canadians” are the words written on a document I hold very close to me, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In 2005, I recognized what the Charter was, and meant, through an issue the polarized the nation, the Civil Marriages Act. As a curious ten year old, I asked questions, I watched interviews on CBC, trying to figure out why it was resolutely defended even after backlash from many faith communities. As a young Sikh who decided to keep my hair and wear a turban, I regularly got asked questions about it. My mother would proudly tie my turban every morning for school, but I remember fearing that my gym teacher would ask me to remove it or I wouldn’t be allowed to participate in some sports.

Canada Must Be One “I've always dreamt of a society where each person should be able to fulfill himself to the extent of his capabilities as a human being, a society where inhibitions to equality would be eradicated. This means providing individual freedoms, and equality of opportunity, health, and education, and I conceive of politics as a series of decisions to create this society” (Pierre Trudeau). Pierre Trudeau’s definition of a Just Society is, for the government to provide equal right status, equal opportunity, and fair treatment for all. Trudeau’s dream was for Canada to become a Just Society which leaves the question, has Canada progressed towards being a Just Society? Yes, Canada has taken a big step into turning Trudeau’s dreams

Universal healthcare should be available to everyone in the United States, and the best system would be a Canadian-style, single-payer form of national health insurance rather than Obama Care or reliance on private health insurance. Health care is a basic human right, and from an ethical viewpoint, the system in the United States is the most unjust and unequal in the Western world and paradoxically the most expensive as well. Although national health insurance was first proposed as early as 1912, and again during the New Deal and Fair Deal in the 1930s and 1940s, it has always been blocked by powerful corporate interests that have far too much influence on politics and public opinion. Even worse, the injustice of the present system is borne most heavily by the poor, working class, and members of minority groups who lack health care coverage at work and cannot afford private insurance. North of the border, Canada has a far better model for health care and one that most U.S. reformers have demanded since the 1940s. Medicare has been a very popular public service in Canada since it was first passed in 1966, and provides universal health care paid for out of general tax revenue. In the U.S., Medicare covers only those over age 65, but it should be modified into a Medicare for all system, especially if the Supreme Court overturns Obama Care this year.

You would expect in the 21st century that Canada understands the importance of closing the gender gap and would treat everyone equally, but that’s not the case. The gender gap is the differences between men and women and can be shown politically, socially, culturally, economically, or even intellectually. It has been an issue for several years, and only a few people have done anything to close the gender gap or do anything to make a considerable change in it. Moreover, the gender gap doesn’t make a good impact on our world and should be closed if we wish to live in an equal and fair environment. We should be looking at how the gender gap will impact us economically, environmentally, politically, and socially.

Justice Issues In Canadian Society By: Council of Canadian Bishops In Canadian society, there are many great things that everyday people do to make the place they live in much more. Charity is a big contribution to our society; almost everyday, people donate money and clothes they grow out of to help the less fortunate out. General kindness is a wonderful thing to see from one person to another; from holding the door open for an elderly person, to giving money to the homeless, kindness can be seen everywhere.

Gender inequality has been a long part of Canada’s history with men being the dominant decision makers. Women have had to fight long hard battles and overcome numerous obstacles to prove themselves and demonstrate that they are equal to men and not inferior. Over the course of a century women have achieved suffrage and have become increasingly visible in the political and economic sectors. Despite all the achievements women have made barriers remain in effect leaving women at a social, economic and political disadvantage even in the twenty-first century. The primary obstacles in achieving gender equality are the noticeable absence of women in authoritative economic and political positions, unfair social stereotypes that are still

Canada has always been considered a tolerant country, but is it really? We have been known for saying sorry for everything, for being nice. Canada’s recent laws have proved that they are not so tolerant as it is told. In the past ten to fifteen years, Canada has become less tolerant in terms of security, immigration, and religion.

Today, Canada is known around the world as a cultural mosaic. As a nation it welcomes people of both sexes with all different beliefs, cultures, and religions. Creating a mature nation would require promoting equality of opportunity to all and giving help to those who were disadvantaged. However, Canada has not always been a welcoming and mature nation. In the past, women were not allowed to vote alongside men or run for political positions, due to the fact that they were not considered “persons”. As well, Aboriginal children were stipped from their homes, families, and identities so that they could assimilate all First Nations people. During the last century, women have gained more political rights, gained more respect from society, and

Since the late 1700’s there has been a great amount of progress in relation to women’s rights. Throughout this paper I will acknowledge the success and challenges that Canada as a country faces when trying to meet its obligation to women. The article chosen is article three “States Parties shall take in all fields, in particular in the political, social, economic and cultural fields, all appropriate measures, including legislation, to en sure the full development and advancement of women , for the purpose of guaranteeing them the exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms on a basis of equality with men”. This article is from the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW, 1979).

Section 15 of the Charter guarantees equality rights which protects women, people of colour and other visible minorities from discrimination. Critics argue that section 15 does not do enough to advance equality rights and over the years it has created inherent limitations for women, however this is not an accurate statement. Section 15 is a progressive part of the Charter; the equality frame has advanced women’s rights over the past thirty years, it has allowed women to play a bigger policy role and the addition of new characteristics to the equality frame demonstrates that it is able to accommodate change. Using the Andrews case, Nixon case and Bill 94 debate as examples this paper shows how section 15 has been beneficial for Canadian women, they can now fight inequalities and seek justice because section 15 has given them a voice.