Content last verified against official statutes: June 13, 2026
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is the part of Canada's Constitution that sets out the rights and freedoms governments must respect. Because it is constitutional, an ordinary law that conflicts with it can be challenged and struck down. This is a plain-language tour of what the Charter actually covers.
Fundamental freedoms
Section 2 protects fundamental freedoms: freedom of conscience and religion; freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press; freedom of peaceful assembly; and freedom of association. These are the freedoms most people picture when they think of the Charter.
Legal rights in the justice system
Sections 7 to 14 set out legal rights that apply when a person deals with police, courts, and the justice system: the right to life, liberty and security of the person; protection against unreasonable search and seizure; the right not to be arbitrarily detained; the right on arrest to be told why and to retain and instruct counsel; and the right to a fair trial. These are the protections that shape how the state can investigate, detain, and prosecute.
Equality and language rights
Section 15 guarantees equality before and under the law and equal protection without discrimination on grounds such as race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age, and mental or physical disability. The Charter also protects the right of citizens to vote, mobility rights to enter and leave Canada, and official-language rights.
The limits built into the Charter
Charter rights are not absolute. Section 1 allows reasonable limits that can be justified in a free and democratic society, which is why some laws that restrict a right are still upheld. Section 33, the “notwithstanding clause,” lets Parliament or a legislature temporarily override certain Charter rights in a specific law.
One point that surprises many people: the Charter generally governs the relationship between individuals and government, not private disputes between two people or companies. Discrimination by a private employer or landlord is handled under human rights legislation, not the Charter directly.
Going further
To see how the Charter sits alongside federal and provincial statutes, read the guide to legal rights in Canada, or browse specific statutes in the law library.