Know Your Rights
Standing
Undergraduate
Type of Proposal
Oral Research Presentation
Challenges Theme
Open Challenge
Faculty Sponsor
Emmanuelle Richez
Proposal
Interpretations of the rights and freedoms protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (hereinafter the Charter) have expanded significantly through judicial reviews since its publication in 1982. Nonetheless, many vulnerable groups in Canadian society are unable to utilize their Charter rights and freedoms due to barriers to access to justice. This project intends to research potential changes that could be made to the Charter to allow disadvantaged groups to further enjoy equal access to justice and explore how these changes could benefit vulnerable groups by enhancing policies impacting their rights. Information will be gathered by assisting in the Community Symposium on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (hereinafter the Charter Symposium). Participation in the Charter Symposium will expose the authors to the research and viewpoints of various scholars in the legal profession, who will present information throughout the event. Thus, the research conducted at the community symposium will play a key role in filling the gap in Charter literature. The research highlights three main topics; access to justice under the Charter, how Charter rights can be expanded to aid disadvantaged groups, and evaluate the potential to increase rights for official language minority groups. The implications of this research are expected to lead to better access to justice, knowledge and understanding of one's rights, and eventually enhanced policy for disadvantaged groups.
Grand Challenges
Viable, Healthy and Safe Communities
Know Your Rights
Interpretations of the rights and freedoms protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (hereinafter the Charter) have expanded significantly through judicial reviews since its publication in 1982. Nonetheless, many vulnerable groups in Canadian society are unable to utilize their Charter rights and freedoms due to barriers to access to justice. This project intends to research potential changes that could be made to the Charter to allow disadvantaged groups to further enjoy equal access to justice and explore how these changes could benefit vulnerable groups by enhancing policies impacting their rights. Information will be gathered by assisting in the Community Symposium on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (hereinafter the Charter Symposium). Participation in the Charter Symposium will expose the authors to the research and viewpoints of various scholars in the legal profession, who will present information throughout the event. Thus, the research conducted at the community symposium will play a key role in filling the gap in Charter literature. The research highlights three main topics; access to justice under the Charter, how Charter rights can be expanded to aid disadvantaged groups, and evaluate the potential to increase rights for official language minority groups. The implications of this research are expected to lead to better access to justice, knowledge and understanding of one's rights, and eventually enhanced policy for disadvantaged groups.