Learn the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed to you under Canadian law, and understand how to recognize, assert, and protect them in everyday situations.
Every Canadian has rights—but rights you don't know about are rights you can't exercise. This pillar provides practical knowledge of your legal rights and freedoms under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, human rights legislation, and common law. More importantly, it teaches you how to recognize situations where your rights may be at stake and how to respond appropriately. This is not legal advice, and it won't make you a lawyer. What it will do is give you the foundational knowledge to understand your position in interactions with police, employers, landlords, businesses, and government agencies. You'll learn when to assert yourself, when to seek professional help, and how to document situations that may require legal attention. Knowledge of your rights is essential protection in a complex society.
Each topic is designed to build practical understanding you can apply immediately.
Understand Canada's constitutional bill of rights, including fundamental freedoms, democratic rights, mobility rights, legal rights, equality rights, and when the Charter applies to government actions.
Know your rights during police stops, searches, arrests, and detentions. Learn what police can and cannot do, and how to protect yourself while remaining safe and compliant.
Understand employment standards, workplace safety, discrimination protections, and your rights regarding termination, wages, and working conditions under provincial and federal law.
Learn your rights as a renter, including lease agreements, rent increases, maintenance obligations, eviction procedures, and how to resolve disputes with landlords.
Understand protections against unfair business practices, your rights regarding refunds and warranties, and how to seek recourse when businesses fail to meet their obligations.
Learn about prohibited grounds of discrimination, how human rights tribunals work, and what to do if you experience discrimination in employment, housing, or services.
Practical skills you can apply immediately in your daily life.
Identify situations where your rights may be infringed and understand the difference between inconvenience and actual legal violations.
Communicate your rights clearly and calmly in various situations without escalating conflicts or putting yourself at risk.
Properly record details of incidents that may require legal attention, including what information to gather and how to preserve evidence.
Understand how to file complaints with appropriate bodies, from workplace grievances to human rights tribunals.
Recognize when a situation requires professional legal assistance and know how to find appropriate resources.
Recognize that rights have limits, and understand concepts like reasonable limits under Section 1 of the Charter.
The Know Your Rights pillar builds directly on the Government pillar by showing how constitutional and legal frameworks translate into practical protections in your daily life. Understanding your rights empowers you to navigate interactions with authorities, employers, and businesses with confidence, and provides essential context for financial decisions, consumer choices, and evaluating information.
TrueNorth LMS offers comprehensive education across all five pillars. Purchase this pillar individually or explore the full program.