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Canada's legal system and political system first came from Britain. We also brought our ideas of personal rights and freedoms from Britain. In Quebec, parts of the legal system came from France.
===Canada's constitution===
The Canadian constitution is the set of rules that define the powers of the government and the rights of the people. It says how we want to govern ourselves and structure our society. The constitution includes the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (often called the “Charter”). The Charter lists Canadians’ most important rights and freedoms.
*the right to have a fair '''trial''' in court, and
*the right not to suffer cruel or unusual '''punishment'''.
===All Canadians are equal===
'''Equality''' is one of the most important values in Canada. Everyone in Canada is equal under the law. Laws in Canada apply to all people, including the police, judges, and those who work for the government.
People in Canada do not get better jobs because of the amount of money they have, their social class or gender. For example, in Canada, women can have the same jobs as men and all the same responsibilities.
===Your rights===
There are many Canadian laws that protect your rights. Laws about human rights are one example.
Canada’s human rights laws protect you against unfair '''discrimination''' when you:
*use public services,
*buy or rent a home,
*look for a job, or
*deal with any government agency.
Discrimination is against the law in Canada. To discriminate against someone means to treat him or her differently from other people in a way that is unfair. The law says that no one can discriminate against you because of your:
*gender,
*age,
*race or birthplace,
*your religion,
*sexual orientation (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual or straight),
*your marriage or family status (single, married, or living common-law), or
*mental or physical disability.
'''For example''': It is against the law to discriminate against women. Women in Canada are equal to men. They are equal partners in the family, in business, in law, and in government.
Racial discrimination is illegal in Canada. It is against the law for anyone to discriminate against you because of the colour of your skin, or the country you or your ancestors came from.