April 16, 2005

Prime Minister Paul Martin today issued the following statement on the 20th anniversary of the coming into force of Section 15, the equality provision, of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

“This Sunday, April 17th marks a special day in the evolution of our country. It marks the 20th anniversary of the coming into force of the equality provision of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Section 15 states that every person in Canada is equal before and under the law. It declares that the pursuit of equality must go beyond the simple concept of non-discrimination. While previously a number of federal and provincial laws dealt with equality and discrimination, Section 15, for the first time, enshrined those important principles in our Constitution.

In the past 20 years, Section 15 has been an instrument of change. It has guided Parliament in ensuring that new laws are designed to promote equality. It has given courts the authority to strike down discriminatory laws and practices when claims came before them. As the framers of the Constitution anticipated, the courts, over time, have added to the list of prohibited grounds of discrimination in the section. And as our society evolves, we can fully expect Section 15 to continue to shape our laws to reflect it those changes.

Section 15 is one of the reasons Canadians take pride in the Charter, which has been used a model in other countries. A whole generation of Canadians has grown up benefiting from its effect. New Canadians come to our shores seeking the protections it offers, which aren’t available in their homelands.

Section 15 is part of our collective identity and our values. It reflects our desire for a tolerant, respectful and diverse society. I invite all those in Canada to reflect on our good fortune to live in a country which is guided by such noble principles.”