Rights & Freedoms

National Archives of Canada (C-024355). Budget Speech, Ottawa, Ontario, 24 June 1940. Debate in the House of Commons gives voice to the will of the people. Here, the Finance Minister, J.L. Ralston, delivers his war budget. The people of Germany had no similar freedom to debate Hitler's wartime policies.

As Canadians, we live in a free and democratic society. We have the right to participate in the political process and to choose who will govern us by voting in elections. Canada is a representative democracy, which means that we express our views through the Members of Parliament that we elect to the House of Commons. The political party that has the majority of the Members forms the government. The government then serves the will of the people, through their elected representatives, rather than the people serving the government.

Canadians are entitled to a number of rights and freedoms as citizens of this country. But the enjoyment of these rights and freedoms comes with the recognition that we also have certain duties and responsibilities to meet. Tradition and the constitution set out these rights, freedoms, duties, and responsibilities.

National Archives of Canada (PA-177014).

"Collaborators" Endure Haircuts during a Mock Occupation, Fredericton, New Brunswick, July 1948.

In Europe, people suspected of collaborating with the enemy suffered considerable pain and humiliation. Canadians, however, did not have to face similar infringements on their liberties.