Canada’s Laws
Many Canadians have come to Canada from other countries. Some of these countries have laws and legal systems that are different from Canada’s.
When people come to Canada, they may be surprised to find that there are many differences between Canadian law and the law in the country they came from. It is important for newcomers to know that the laws are not the same and to try to understand the differences.
Where does Canadians law come from? Canada’s legal system and political system first came from Britain. We also got our ideas of personal rights and freedoms from Britain. In Quebec, parts of the legal system also come from France.
Everyone in Canada has legal rights. Some of your important legal rights are:
- the right to be thought of as innocent until proven guilty
- the right to have a fair trial in court
- the right not to suffer cruel or unusual punishment