My Canadian civics knowledge is pathetic, granted, but if I understand it correctly...The Charter of Rights and Freedoms of 1982 as wonderful as it is, was in fact, a list of rights and freedoms, granted by the GOVERNMENT to the people(how generous of them). As opposed to the US Constitution, which affirms the rights of the people are a God given birthright which no government can take away. The US Constitution limits the power of the government...more precisely, the 10th Amendment, which more or less says, "if it ain't a power laid out in the Constitution then that power shall reside with the people". The whole point being, it seems to me, a power granted by the govt...can be taken away by the govt, at the stroke of a pen. This is not a criticism in any way, but is an unfortunate fact. And admittedly, through apathy and the ceaseless drip of socialism, cowardice of the court system, US citizens find themselves in the same boat as the cousins.
Many in Parliament are ignorant of the Charter too, here is the first line.
"Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law"
