Indian Act.The last Section that I want to discuss is section 27. It states that the charter will be interpreted in a manner “Consistent with the preservation and enhancement of the multicultural heritage of Canadians” One example of how this section is influential in helping minority groups was in the “Keegstra Incident” James Keegstra was a teacher who taught his students many anti-Semitic theories. He was charged with promoting hatred contrary to criminal code. He challenged the criminal code on the basis that is violated his freedom of expression guaranteed in the Charter of rights and freedoms. The court refereed to section 27 when they rejected Keegstra’s argument, noting that promotion of hatred contradicts the principles, which recognize the dignity and worth of minorities. (Schneiderman: 1997) There are other sections of the Charter that are useful in protecting minority groups such as Section 3 that gives everyone the right to vote in an election and to be qualified for member of parliament. Chinese and Japanese Canadian were denied the right to vote until the 1940s, and native persons were not allowed to vote until1960. Section 6 gives every Canadian citizen the right to leave remain, and enter Canada. This offers protection against such act as the War measures Act that was invoked in WWII when Canada attempted to deport Japanese Canadians. (Cohen: 1987)The last thing I would like to talk about in Canada’s war against discrimination is the Human Rights Acts. The human rights acts are the most significant legal protection in the field of race relations. The prohibit discrimination in such fields as accommodation, facilities, services, contracts, and employment.The first Human Right Act in Canada was the Racial Discrimination Act of 1944. This act prohibited the publication, display or broadcast of anything indicting an intention to discriminate on the bases of race or creed. This act was...
