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Although Roman Catholic, Protestant and other Christians comprise
the largest religious groups in Canada – about 23 million people in
total, Canada is also home to more than 700,000 Muslims, about
400,000 Buddhists, more than 300,000 Jews, Hindus and Sikhs, and
more than 5.5 million identified as ‘non-religious’.
DID YOU KNOW?
Canada’s two official languages are English and French. English and French are the mother tongues of about 58%
and 22% of the population respectively, and spoken at home by 71% and 23% of the population respectively.
Almost all Canadians speak English or French and about 18% speak both languages.
English and French have equal status in federal courts, Parliament, and in all federal institutions. Citizens have the
right, where there is sufficient demand, to receive federal government services in either English or French, and
official-language minorities are guaranteed their own schools in all provinces and territories.
Although 85% of French-speaking Canadians live in Quebec, there are substantial Francophone populations in other
provinces—particularly in northern and eastern Ontario, New Brunswick, and parts of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and
Alberta.
Speaking English or French is extremely important to starting a life in Canada. Knowing one of these languages will
help you:
• Find and maintain employment
• Become a Canadian citizen
• Actively participate in your new community
• Communicate with your children in the language they are learning in school
OFFICIAL LANGUAGES
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms—“The
Charter”—is a bill of rights entrenched in the Constitution
of Canada. The federal government, the provincial
and territorial governments and all Canadian citizens
and residents must abide by its terms. The rights and
freedoms enshrined in the Charter include:
Fundamental freedoms, namely freedom of conscience,
religion, thought, belief, and expression, freedom of the
press and of other media of communication, freedom of
peaceful assembly, and freedom of association;
Equality rights, meaning equal treatment before and
under the law, and equal protection and benefit of the
law without discrimination;
Democratic rights (for citizens), most importantly the
right to participate in political activities and the right to
a democratic form of government, more specifically the
right to vote and to be eligible to serve as member of a
legislature; and
Legal rights when dealing with the justice system and
law enforcement, including the right to freedom from
unreasonable search and seizure, freedom from arbitrary
detainment or imprisonment, the right to be presumed
innocent until proven guilty, and the right not to be subject
to cruel and unusual punishment.
CHARTER OF RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS
Ontario Day to Day
9
Workbook 2010