The Charter of Rights and Freedoms

The eighth edition of The Charter of Rights and Freedoms provides an accessible yet thorough account of the constitutional protection and practical application of rights under the Canadian Charter.

Charter rights are in a state of constant evolution, and renowned legal experts Robert J. Sharpe and Kent Roach help readers navigate these changes with clarity and insight. This new edition considers the current debate on the use of the s. 33 Notwithstanding Clause and examines the impact of approximately 60 new decisions from the Supreme Court of Canada.

These cases dealt with a wide range of subjects including freedom of expression, democratic rights, the use of unwritten constitutional principles, the s. 7 right to life liberty and security of the person, and the overbreadth doctrine. Many new cases address the rights of accused persons in the criminal process, as well as the right to equality.

Important recent developments regarding the rights of Indigenous peoples and principles of self-governance are also examined. In addition to case-law development, the authors take account of the steady stream of scholarly writing that has emerged.

This textbook provides a fundamental guide to navigating the Charter for practitioners, professors, students, and all those interested in understanding the foundations of law in Canada.