Human Rights Law in Canada

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Constitutional Architecture of Human Rights

Human rights law in Canada operates at two principal levels: the constitutional level, embodied in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Part I of the Constitution Act, 1982), and the statutory level, comprising federal, provincial, and territorial human rights codes. The Charter is the supreme law of Canada and applies to government action — including legislation, regulations, and the conduct of government actors. The Charter’s supremacy is established by s. 52(1) of the Constitution Act, 1982, which provides that any law inconsistent with the Constitution is of no force or effect. Human rights codes, by contrast, apply to both government and private actors, regulating discrimination in employment, housing, services, and other areas of public life.

Human Rights on ExcellentWiki - Legal Encyclopedia

Human Rights Law in Canada

The Constitutional Architecture of Human Rights