Rights

The information presented here is intended to provide the user with resources related to Canadian laws and policies dealing with access to information and privacy, with a particular emphasis on the federal Access to Information Act and Privacy Act.

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. hey receive hundreds of calls every year, and provide information or refer callers to other resources.

The Alberta Human Rights Act establishes the Alberta Human Rights Commission to carry out functions under the act. The Commission is an independent commission created by the Government of Alberta, which reports to the Minister of Culture and Community Spirit. The Commission has a two-fold mandate: to foster equality and to reduce discrimination. It fulfills this mandate through public education and community initiatives, through the resolution and settlement of complaints of discrimination, and through human rights tribunal and court hearings.

Search for decisions that have been made through the Alberta Human Rights Tribunal using the Canadian Legal Information Institute (CanLII).

This publication explains the provisions of the Act as they apply to pregnancy, breastfeeding, maternity and parental leave, adoption, and childcare obligations. It also provides resources for finding more information about maternity leave and parental leave, which includes leave for adoptive parents.

The Alberta Human Rights Commission offers free, online resources available for anyone wanting to learn more about human rights and responsibilities. They also offer workshops and via the Canadian Association of Statutory Human Rights Agencies (CASHRA) online courses are available for anyone wanting to learn more about human rights and responsibilities. 

The Government of Alberta is committed to celebrating and supporting all communities, including the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and Questioning (LGBTQ) community. There are a number of online programs and support for the LGBTQ community that address issues such as discrimination, bullying, family violence and mental health issues. This page provides links to various programs and services to the LGBTQ community.

Alberta LGBTQ+’s mission is to bring together businesses, communities, and government to build a thriving business community that promotes the equality and inclusion of gender and sexually diverse individuals in commerce and at work. 

The Alberta Mental Health Patient Advocate is an independent, provincial investigative body legislated under the Mental Health Act. The Patient Advocate protects the rights of persons and investigates and resolves complaints related to the detention, treatment, care and rights of individuals subject to admission or renewal certificate/s or a community treatment order under the Act, and those acting on their behalf. The office also serves as a resource to the mental health community through education services and to policy and law makers by bringing a unique perspective

An all-inclusive website and resource for anyone in the transgender spectrum in the province of Alberta.

Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) helps companies of all sizes and sectors to achieve success in ways that demonstrate respect for ethical values, people, communities and the environment. BSR leads or participates in a range of working groups and collaborative initiatives, undertakes research and provides a variety of reports and publications.

Calgary Outlink: Center for Gender & Sexual Diversity strives to create healthy communities and brighter futures for LGBTQ+ individuals. They provide a safe community space equipped with support services, education opportunities, a support line, and access to resources.

The CCLA fights for the civil liberties, human rights, and democratic freedoms of all people across Canada. Founded in 1964, they are an independent, national, nongovernmental organization, working in the courts, before legislative committees, in the classrooms, and in the streets, protecting the rights and freedoms cherished by Canadians and entrenched in our Constitution.

The Canadian Feminist Alliance for International Action (FAFIA) is a dynamic coalition of over 50 Canadian women’s equality-seeking and related organizations. FAFIA’s mandate is to further women’s equality in Canada through domestic implementation of its’ international human rights commitments.

The Commission’s business is to make the Canadian Human Rights Act work for the benefit of all Canadians. There are three main aspects to its work: To provide effective and timely means for resolving individual complaints; To promote knowledge of human rights in Canada and to encourage people to follow principles of equality; and to help reduce barriers to equality in employment and access to services. Their website includes sections with publications and frequently asked questions. The Commission provides dispute resolution services in cases of alleged discrimination by federally regulated organizations, including employers, unions and service providers. This online resource addresses issues such as alternative dispute resolution and the dispute resolution process.

The Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC) was established at the University of Ottawa, Faculty of Law in the fall of 2003. Through student-centered research and advocacy, the clinic represents consumer and other public interests in such areas as intellectual property, consumer protection in e-commerce, domain name governance, personal information protection and privacy.

These FAQs are provided by the Canadian Legal FAQs, a website of the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta. These FAQs provide information about constitutionally-protected French-language minority rights outside of Québec and are divided into 5 sections: General Information; Education Rights; Rights Regarding Government Services and Communications; Rights Regarding Access to Legislation and Government Publications; and Judicial Rights.

The Cornell Death Penalty Project is an undertaking of the Cornell Law School. The Project sponsors two clinics that provide students with the opportunity to assist in the representation of capital defendants, both at trial and at various stages of the appeals process. The Project also sponsors periodic symposia related to capital punishment, and in addition, conducts empirical research on jury decision making in capital cases.

CCD is a national human rights organization of people with disabilities working for an inclusive and accessible Canada. CCD’s priorities include: disability-related supports; poverty alleviation; increased employment for persons with disabilities; promotion of human rights; ratification and implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; technology developed according to the principles of universal design; and, air, rail, bus and marine transport that is accessible to persons with all types of disabilities. CCD seeks to achieve these priorities through law reform, litigation, public education and dialogue with key decision-makers.

This guide provides key resources related to Impaired Driving Offences in Canada. It also includes materials dealing with non-criminal impaired driving offences within the legislation of the province of Alberta. Topics in this guide include:

• Defences
• Evidentiary issues
• Impaired driving devices
• Sentencing/Penalties

This guide was design for parents to prepare them for the conversations they may need to have with their kids when they first start using digital devices, as they grow and their online activities change, and when things go wrong. The guide is divided into three sections that each deal with a different aspect of digital citizenship:  Respect People’s Feelings, to Respect Privacy and to Respect Property online.

In Alberta each government department is required to have a directory of personal information banks (PIBs) and make it available to the public. A personal information bank lists the type of personal information held by a public body. A personal information bank does not provide direct access to an individual’s records. For further information check out this page.

The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association (BCCLA) has re-launched an online guide about privacy rights related to electronic devices – such as laptops, cellphones, and tablets – at the border. It’s aimed at people crossing the border into Canada or departing for the U.S. through preclearance areas in Canada. It is available in English in both a short guide and a full guide and available in French, Mandarin, Punjabi, Tagalog, Spanish and Arabic.

Handy guide to terminology pertinent human rights law, privacy, revealing gender identity to other employees, use of bathrooms and other issues regarding accommodation of trans-identified persons in the workplace.

In this issue of English Express you will learn about human rights in Alberta with examples and illustrations. English Express uses simple and easy to understand English for anyone to understand their publication.(PDF – 23 pages)

Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL) is a resource pack for teachers to introduce students aged 13 to 18 to the basic rules of international humanitarian law. It was designed by the International Committee of the Red Cross (CICR). The learning materials, which provide 36 hours of activities, are based on real-life situations and show how IHL aims to protect life and human dignity during armed conflict and prevent and reduce the suffering and devastation caused by war.

These guidelines support the creation of welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments that foster diversity and nurture a sense of belonging and a positive sense of self . Their purpose is to enable school authorities to use best practices in creating and supporting learning environments that respect diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions. (January 2016)

This tipsheet is produced by the Stride Advocacy Project. The Project works to strengthen community based advocacy that relates and navigates systems and institutions while creating “access without fear” spaces for marginalized and low income Edmontonians.

One of the most famous cases in Canadian legal history–the Persons Case–was brought by five Alberta women–Emily Murphy (Herstory 1974), Nellie McClung (Herstory 1974), Irene Parlby (Herstory 1975), Henrietta Muir Edwards (Herstory 1976), and Louise McKinney (Herstory 1981). They asked the Supreme Court of Canada to declare that women were persons under the meaning of the British North America Act and therefore eligible to be appointed to the Senate.

This project of the Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre provides teacher’s guides, student materials, videos and a bibliography of online resources to help students and teachers in junior and senior high schools to explore the topics of discrimination, sexual harassment and human rights.

The Human Rights Glossary includes terminology related to human rights in the Canadian context. The glossary contains terms used by the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC) and the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal (CHRT). Created in 1977 by Parliament, this tribunal is the only entity that may legally decide whether a person or organization has engaged in a discriminatory practice under the Canadian Human Rights Act. An administrative tribunal specializing in the field of human rights, the CHRT is similar to a court of law, but is less formal.

This blog post clarifies the current law in terms of the human rights of residential tenants in Alberta, identifies concerns about a lack of effective protection of tenants’ human rights at the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service, and suggests that lawyers and advocates working in this area should ask questions to determine if discrimination is occurring and, if so, make their clients aware of their rights and how they can protect them.

LawNow is a bi-monthly digital public legal education magazine which has been  published by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta for almost 40 years.  Its articles  and columns are written in plain language take a practical look at how the law relates to the every day lives of Canadians. In each issue, LawNow’s human rights column takes a look at a specific topic in this area of law and explains it clearly and concisely.

This section of the Department of Justice Canada website includes information on  human trafficking.
Related keywords: Human rights (146), International law (83

When someone uses personal information such as your name, Social Insurance number (SIN), credit card number or other identifying information without your knowledge or permission, it is identity theft and it is a crime. This tipsheet provides information on: how businesses and community groups can raise awareness of identity theft, how to protect your identity when you are away from home, and how to report ID theft.

Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada is responsible for addressing and resolving issues arising from the legacy of Indian Residential Schools and works with former students of Indian Residential Schools, Aboriginal organizations, church representatives, and the Courts, to oversee the timely and effective implementation of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement.

WARNING: This website deals with topics that may cause trauma.

This booklet is for people who would like to learn more about their constitutionally-protected French language rights outside of Quebec.

This online source of the consolidated Acts and regulations of Canada is provided by the Department of Justice Canada. The consolidations are generally updated on a weekly basis.

If you’re planning to demonstrate, be safe, be careful, and know your rights. Download this document prepared by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association that outlines your rights and responsibilities at protests in Canada.

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association has put together this manual to help you know what you must do, what you do not have to do and what you may wish to do in situations involving the police. The final section lists sources for making a complaint about the police for each province and territory in Canada. (PDF – 12 pages) 

The Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre (ACLRC) has worked with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) communities for over 20 years. They have developed several publications, resources and services that help schools, community groups and organizations understand and support LGBT populations.

This information sheet is provides Albertans with information on the legal rights of people with mental or physical disabilities.

A national non profit women’s organization which promotes the equality rights of women through legal education, research and law reform advocacy.

The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) is a National Indigenous Organization representing the political voice of Indigenous women, girls and gender diverse people in Canada, inclusive of First Nations on and off reserve, status and non-status, disenfranchised, Métis and Inuit. NWAC works on a variety of issues such as employment, labour and business, health, violence prevention and safety, justice and human rights, environment, early learning childcare and international affairs.

The Office of the Information Commissioner investigates complaints about federal institutions’ handling of access requests. The Information Commissioner has strong investigative powers to assist  in mediating between dissatisfied information applicants and government institutions. As an ombudsperson, the Commissioner may not order a complaint to be resolved in a particular way, and may refer a case to the Federal Court for resolution.

The Commissioner is an advocate for the privacy rights of Canadians and her powers include: Investigating complaints, conducting audits and pursuing court action under two federal laws – Privacy Act and Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA); Publicly reporting on the personal information-handling practices of public and private sector organizations; Supporting, undertaking and publishing research into privacy issues; and Promoting public awareness and understanding of privacy issues.

Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) is Alberta’s private sector privacy law. PIPA applies to provincial private sector organizations, businesses and, in some instances, to non-profit organizations for the protection of personal information and to provide a right of access to an individual’s own personal information.Organizations that are subject to PIPA must develop and follow policies that are reasonable to meet its obligations under the Act. When PIPA refers to any thing or any matter as ‘reasonable,’ it is that which a reasonable person would consider appropriate in the circumstances.For public bodies, such as government departments and municipalities, please see information provided on the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act website.

Pivot’s mandate is to use the law to address the root causes of poverty and social exclusion. Pivot carries out its work through legal campaigns around policing, housing, and sex work that would result in meaningful positive change for people living in poverty.

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).

The Privacy & Access Council of Canada (PACC) a voice for privacy and access. PACC is Independent • Non-profit • Non-partisan • Non-government. PACC is dedicated to the development and promotion of the access-to-information, information privacy, and data governance profession across the private, non-profit and public sectors.

This publication prepared by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada is intended to provide readers with a general overview of the ten principles included in the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), and how these principles affect associations and non-profit organizations (PDF – 10 pages).

 In order to build consumer trust and confidence in conducting e-business in Canada the Government of Canada is committed to establishing clear rules to protect the privacy of personal information in the new ‘virtual’ marketplace. This is being done through the implementation of Federal privacy legislation, and through development of a national policy on unsolicited consumer e-mail, otherwise know as SPAM.

Facts about internet privacy and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. Suggests methods of increasing your privacy for internet use, newsgroups and email.

This resource was designed to help teachers and educators promote active citizenship and encourage youth to explore their rights and responsibilities in building inclusive communities based on understanding and respect. The four themes in this resource offer methods for raising awareness of human rights, understanding the role of stereotypes and prejudices in promoting discrimination, and exploring how racism and other injustices are manifested in our schools, communities, and society.

Refworld contains a vast collection of information of refugee status: reports relating to situations in countries of origin, policy documents and positions, and documents relating to international and national legal frameworks. It also includes special features on topics of importance to UNHCR such as refugee status determination, statelessness, migration, gender equality and women, internally displaced people, resettlement, voluntary repatriation and children.

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms ensures that your rights are protected during an arrest. Police officers cannot arrest you at will; they must obey certain rules. They may need to get a warrant from the court to arrest you or enter your home. The police must carefully consider the particular circumstances surrounding every single arrest. In this Infosheet, Éducaloi explains your rights during an arrest and your right to a lawyer.

This publication from the Alberta Human Rights Commission explains protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. (July 2017)

This activity sheet is a twist on the classic children’s game that helps players learn how to make smart privacy choices by climbing up a ladder when they make a good decision or sliding down a snake because they have shared a password with a friend, for example.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has created this graphic novel to help young Canadians to better understand and navigate privacy issues in the online world. The 12-page graphic novel– is designed to appeal to tweens and younger teens. The novel was developed with feedback from young people, it tells the story of a brother and sister who learn (sometimes the hard way) about the privacy risks related to social networking, mobile devices and texting, and online gaming.To accompany the graphic novel, they have also developed a discussion guide that educators can use to generate further discussion and learning.

An online community that connects youth to find inspiration, access information, get involved, and take action in their local and global communities. Learn about and become involved in issues related to Social justice and human rights, Poverty and globalization, Peace and conflict, Environment, Cultural diversity and equity, Education, Health and wellness. The site also includes a special section for educators.

Talk Rights is a new online space for the Canadian public to learn about their rights and freedoms. Explore their collection of resources, and you can contribute your own ideas, stories and priorities to the conversation. Teachers check out their resources for elementary and secondary students.

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.

Canadian Civil Liberties Education Trust (CCLET) is a non-profit research and educational organization created by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. CCLET’s function is to introduce Canadians to the exploration of civil liberties and to help in the development of democratic habits. Website includes a section of resources for teachers.

The David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights is a centre within the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law devoted to advocacy, research and education in the areas of constitutional rights in Canada. The Centre aims to play a vital role in articulating Canada’s constitutional vision to the broader world. The cornerstone of the Centre is a legal clinic that brings together students, faculty and members of the bar to work on significant constitutional cases and advocacy initiatives

The Rainbow Pages is a resource guide developed by The Family Centre to provide Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual+ (2SLGBTQIA+) youth and youth-serving communities with a consolidated guide of support available in Edmonton. We provide a directory of services and supports on our website as well as physical brochures for organizations and the community.

Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship Commission, in cooperation with other Canadian human rights commissions and TakingItGlobal, launched a new interactive youth website celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This website provides youth with an interactive forum to help them learn about human rights and engage in a human rights dialogue. The website also offers tips for youth to get involved in promoting and protecting human rights.

The purpose of this site from UNICEF is to offer all children and adolescents a safe and supportive global cyberspace within which they can explore, discuss and partner on issues related to human rights and social change. Topics include Education, Environment, Violence and Conflict, Poverty and hunger, HIV/AIDS, Health, and Human Rights.

Produced by the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, this guide uses easy-reference language yet provides detailed explanations. It is suitable for students from Grade 7-12 and for newcomers wishing to learn more about the Charter. Available in English or French. (free download via Scribd, 48 pages)

The focus of this web site from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada is to help kids understand how technology affects their privacy, and what they can do to build secure online profiles while keeping their information safe. Includes teacher resources.

This website was developed by the Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre with the assistance of a number of Alberta organizations who serve the LGBT community. It offers information and resources for LGBT youth.