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Commentary

Fundamental Rights Are Our Heritage

Tue, April 18, 2023   |   Author: Vicki Gunn   |   Volume 30    Issue 16 | Share: Gab | Facebook | Twitter   

What should Canadian voters understand about the essential role our Christian heritage plays in who we are?

Most Canadians give very little thought to the foundational principles laid down in 1867 at Confederation. But since 1215 (Magna Carta), freedom and equality had already been built into the British laws and broadened through the following centuries. The British system of laws, based on biblical law, were part of the great inheritance to which Canadians are heirs because our founding fathers consciously chose to preserve the laws that protected civil rights.

This legal system placed ALL people under the law; ensured equal treatment no matter what your station in life; and allowed all citizens to own property . . . including women.

In this brief recap, we can see the value of these in maintaining freedom and equality.

When CHP Canada speaks of our diminishing human rights in Canada with the increase in secularist laws, what are we saying?

We often use the example of special laws that have been made that are specific to certain groups of people. The objection comes before us that these groups may have suffered unfair treatment in the past, so they need additional protections. But, is this a valid point?

Our Constitution says that, “Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: (a) freedom of conscience and religion . . .”

This law does not say that some people have freedom of conscience and religion; it says that “Everyone” has this freedom. Why would we need special mention of protection of any religion—such as has been implemented for Muslims—when their religion (like ours) is already protected by the highest law in the land?

Equal consideration under the law requires each of us to recognize every other person as protected by the laws of our country. Whether or not we take part in someone else’s religious choices is not the issue at hand. The issue is that our laws guarantee our freedom to believe as we choose.

By allowing certain religious groups ‘special protection’ under the law, we have broken our own law—the law that says that we have the fundamental freedom to follow the dictates of our own conscience in regard to religion.

In breaking this law and giving ‘special protection’ to certain groups, we have given that group rights and freedoms superior to ‘lesser Canadians.’ Thus, we have been divided by our government into those with greater and lesser freedoms. Or, we could say that we have had our rights reverted to the the level of those in the era before the Magna Carta was signed. Magna Carta applied biblical values about human dignity and equality to the common law.

Protection from arbitrary arrest and imprisonment for disagreeing with government policies was guaranteed in English law in 1628. Canadians were also protected from arbitrary arrest and imprisonment as part of our Christian heritage.

During the past couple of years, we saw pastors being sent to prison nationwide for requiring their Charter guaranteed rights be respected. Pastor Artur Pawlowski endured 51 days of incarceration in Alberta . . . contrary to our own laws and the basic principles of justice.

The Magna Carta protected the rights of “ . . . the church to be free from governmental interference” without “due process” from 1215 forward. Yet, our government chose to violate the laws protecting fundamental rights and freedoms.

Why should Canadians care about the essential historical role of our Christian heritage in our legal system today?

The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms states, in Section 1, that our rights and freedoms are guaranteed, “…subject only to such reasonable limits prescribed by law as can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.” Arbitrarily violating those rights is not an option. They are foundational to our laws.

Each time a foundation is damaged, the entire structure becomes destabilized. That is why CHP Canada holds so dearly to the heritage that we inherited from our forefathers. Allowing governments the latitude to remove or grant rights at will, makes those rights a gift of the government and NOT a fundamental right.

Every Canadian should be aware that we are only one generation away from tyranny. If this generation will not require that our rights be respected as fundamental and irrevocable, then those rights will be stripped from us at the will of those with the temerity to do so.

How much do you value your fundamental rights? Will you boldly proclaim them as irrevocable and foundational? CHP Canada has fought, since our inception the superseding or diminishing of our foundational rights . . . even by government.

Understand critically that laws that weaken the fabric of our Christian heritage are also weakening our rights and freedoms. We must oppose the unconstitutional actions of those who would rob us of our great heritage.

Join CHP Canada today!



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