Civil liberties

A publication of the Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre.

Ad IDEM is dedicated to the protection and enhancement of free expression in Canada and abroad. Their aim is to achieve this objective through: public and professional education; advocacy and law reform initiative; and cooperation with related professional organizations.

The Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre is a Canadian non-governmental, non-profit organization affiliated with the University of Calgary which undertakes research on contemporary civil liberties and human rights issues that are of concern to Albertans. The projects are diverse – from proposals for reform of human rights legislation, to a report on citizen complaints about police conduct, to a manual for lawyers who represent mentally disabled clients. Staff and volunteers make presentations on a wide range of civil liberties and human rights topics.

The Research Centre undertakes research on contemporary civil liberties and human rights issues that are of concern to Albertans.The Centre responds to members of the public who call with questions about civil liberties and human rights.  They receive hundreds of calls every year, and provide information or refer callers to other resources.

The Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD) works to promote, protect and develop those human rights which serve as the foundation for or underpin democracy, including the rights to freedom of expression, to vote and participate in governance, to access information and to freedom of assembly and association. Their website provides access to reports, publications and papers relating to democracy rights. It also contains analyses of draft laws from various jurisdictions and outlines details of various projects in which the CLD is involved.

Created by the BC Civil Liberties Association, the overall theme of The Citizenship Handbook is citizenship, and its rights and responsiblities. It is hoped to encourage citizens – both individually and in groups – to become more involved in the democratic life of their communities.

This report was prepared by the Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre discusses the rights of adults (persons who are 18 years or older) who have been accused or convicted of crimes and are either being held in custody in Alberta jails or correctional institutions or being supervised in the community by correctional authorities (for example, those released on bail, parole or other forms of conditional release).

This guide, produced by the Civil Liberties Association of BC, outlines some basic ideas and concepts concerning civil liberties for students. It can however be used by anyone who is interested in civil liberties, including parents, guardians, teachers and school staff. Knowledge is power: if you know what rights are and how they work, you can better understand and protect your rights, and protect and respect the rights of others.

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects a number of rights and freedoms, including freedom of expression and the right to equality. It forms part of our Constitution – the highest law in all of Canada – and is one of our country’s greatest accomplishments. Learn about the Charter, access learning resources and order a copy of the Charter.