Canada has changed a lot since the British North American Act (BNA Act) was signed in 1867 . . . 158 years ago. The technological changes are obvious. Horses have given way to cars. Airplanes have replaced ships for the movement of people from continent to continent. Keyboards have replaced quills for writing letters.

Our population has gone from 3.4 million people in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia to over 41 million, with 10 provinces and 3 territories.

But much more has changed that may be less apparent to the casual observer.

Canada’s laws were formed by the British. These laws were created in the shadow of the Magna Carta, which protected citizens’ rights, freedoms and equalities. Protection of these rights, freedoms and equalities is our legal standard.

We need only look to our Constitution (PDF) to discover that the rights and freedoms enumerated are intended to be protected by law for each and every one of us.

These rights and freedoms are our heritage . . . our Christian heritage. They were entrenched in 1215 with the signing of the Magna Carta in Great Britain; they were carried forward into the Commonwealth and have been honed and sharpened ever since.

Our heritage is built on the premise that all people are equal; all are judged under the same laws, equally applied; and all are free to speak and believe according to their own conscience. These and more are the foundation of our society and are protected within our Constitution.

Sadly, our rights,as individuals, are being subsumed by the proclaimed rights of special interest groups. Our laws—equally applied—do not require special protections for different groups. If each individual is protected by and required to observe the same laws, then there is no need for special protections for a defined subset of the population.

Let’s look at Bill C-4, a bill passed in 2023: it protects the right of the homosexual community to proselytize children from the heterosexual community but denies the right for the reverse. It denies the right of parents to have a conversation with their children or of pastors to have a conversation with their flock, IF it would encourage leaving the homosexual lifestyle. This is a perfect example of the inequalities of laws when they are different for different people. How can we be equal when we live under different laws?

According to the federal government (PDF) individual rights are protected . . . “Everyone in Canada is free to . . .” or, “Every citizen of Canada” . . . or, “Everyone has the right” or, “Every individual“. It’s apparent that the same rights belong to us all. Nowhere does our Constitution state that some Canadians should have special protections.

What are our “Fundamental Rights”? “Everyone has the following fundamental freedoms: (a) freedom of conscience and religion; (b) freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication; (c) freedom of peaceful assembly; and (d) freedom of association.”

This is our heritage. What do we do when our government chips away at this foundation?

It is up to you and me to stand up and say “no” to government overreach. “No” to laws applicable to some but not to others. “No” to laws that promote inequality of opportunity or access between people groups.

Every time we sing our national anthem, we renew our promise . . . “O Canada, we stand on guard for thee”. Every time we utter the words of the accompanying prayer, “God keep our land glorious and free,” we ask God to aid us in preserving our freedoms.

Then comes the time for action; each of us must commit to preserving for future generations the rights and freedoms passed on to us.

It’s time to take action through CHP Canada. Join today!

On behalf of CHP Canada, I wish all of you a very happy Canada Day. (Dominion Day)