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Everyone in Canada charged with a penal offense shall have
the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to
ay in a public trial... .

Following is the text of a Bill of Rights for Canada as proposed
by the League for Democratic Rights and for support of which the
League has launched a national campaign. The League suggests that
individuals and organizations adopt -this Bill, with any amendments

. they believe’ should be incorporated, advise Prime Minister St. Laurent
Of such support as well as the League, al Room 24, 356 Bloor St.

East, Toronto, Ontario. x

Preamble Se
O protect all individuals and minorities in_ their
" buman rights and liberties this BILL OF RIGHTS
is enacted. The enumeration in this BILL of cer
tain rights shall not be construed as denying or
disparaging others retained by the people.

|. Right to freedom, from discrimination
VERYONE in Canada shall be entitled to all rights
and: freedoms without discrimination of any kind.
here shall be no discrimination, or any incitement
to discrimination, on grounds such as race, color,
Sex, language, religion, political or other opinion,
National or social origin, property, birth or other

Status whaesoever and in particular there shall be no>

discrimination on such ground, in employment, edu-
Cation and public places.

|]. Right to freedom of speech

FYERYONE in Canada shall have the right to free-

dom of opinion and expression; this right includes

teedom to hold opinions, political or otherwise,

~ Without interference and to seek, receive and impart

Pinions, information and ideas through any media,

-- 8uch as the press, radio, public platforms or places,

/ and printed matter of all kinds. Everyone in Can-

ada shall have the right to exercise these freedoms
M any language. ‘

III. Right to freedom of assembly |
EVERYONE in Canada shall have the right to free-

dom of assembly; this right includes freedom to-

assemble, without discriminaton, in any place and
cludes the right to hire for purposes of assembly
any public place. : AAS

No one in Canada shall be subjected to arbitrary arres
nuion or exile’... . ;

.

i dete

ee Everyone in Canada shall have the right to freedom
. of opinion and expression... -

[|_| A

IV. Right to freedom of association

Pees in Canada shall have the
right to freedom of association; this
right includes freedom to form and to
join trade unions, political parties, re-
ligious and cultural Societies, and the
like. This right to freedom of associ-
ation shall be undersood to include the
right to strike and to picket. 3

V. Right to freedom of religion,

VERYONE in Canada shall have the
right to freedom of thought, con-
science and religion; this right includes
freedom to change his religion or belief,
and freedom either alone or in com-
-munity with others and in public or
private, to manifest his religion or be-
lief in teaching, practice, worship and
observance.

VI. Right to citizenship
PVERYONE ‘born in Canada, and,

without discrimination, every per-

manent inhabitant of Canada, shall
have the right to Canadian citizenship.
No one shall arbitrarily, or without
judicial process, be deprived of his Can-
adian citizenship, nor be denied the
right to change his citizenship. Every
Canadian citizen shall have the right
to freedom of movement and residence
within the borders of Canada, and the
right to leave Canada and to return to
1.

VIL. Right to personal liberty, fair trial

Ey ONe in Canada charged with
a penal offense shall have the right
to be presumed innocent until proved
guilty according to law in a public trial
at which he has had all the guarantees
‘necessary for his defense including the
unfettered right to appeal. No one in
‘Canada shall be subjected to arbitrary
arrest, detention or exile; nor be sub-
jected to arrest and detention for longer
than 24 hours without public charge;
nor be subjected to arbitrary interfer-
ence with his privacy, family, home,
correspondence or telephone; nor twice
be put'in jeopardy of life, or hmb, for

Everyone in Canada shall have the right to pos
of thought conscience and religion . . .

the same offense; nor be compelled to
be a witness against himself in any
criminal case; nor be deprived of life,
liberty or property without due process
of law. Everyone in Canada shall have
the right-to bail and excessive bail shall
not be required nor excessive fines im-
posed nor cruel or inhuman-treatment

or punishment inflicted. The right to
habeas corpus shall not be suspended
under any circumstances.

VIII. Right to equality before the law

LL, in Canada, are equal before the

law and are entitled without any
discrimination to ‘equal protection of
the law. All are entitled to equal pro-
tection against any discrimination in
violation of this BILL and against any
incitement to such discrimination. No
government body shall pass or order
anything contrary to the letter or spiri

of this BILL. eu

IX. Rightéto petition
VERYONE in Canada shall have the
right to petition any or all of the
various authorities of government; this
right shall include the right to organ-
ize public support for such petitions

by soliciting signatures, public meetings,
and the like.

X. Rignt to government by the people

VERY Canadian citizen, of voting age

and without regard to property qual-
ifications, has the right to take part in
the government of the country, muni-
cipal, provincial or federal, directly or
through freely chosen representatives.
The will of the people shall be the basis —
of the authority of the government;
this will shall be expressed in periodic
and genuine elections of all governing
bodies which shall be by universal and
equal suffrage and shall be held by sec-
ret vote. The right of the people to
recall any of their elected representatives
shall be recognized and be effectively
provided for in law. Amendments to
this BILL shall only be made after a
referendum vote of the people has ap-
proved any proposed changes by a two- -
thirds majority.

PACIFIC TRIBUNE — JULY 13, 1951 — PAGE li