Guidelines for Peaceful Protesting / Gathering / Rallies and/or Attending Events
action4canada.com/know-your-rights-guidelines

By Tanya Gaw, founder Action4Canada.com

Action4Canada’s Tanya Gaw and her team, have created Know Your Rights Guidelines along with an accompanying webinar to inform Canadians of their constitutionally guaranteed rights, and how to assert them when approached by law enforcement or government officials.

The freedom to peacefully protest; freedom of speech, thought and belief; and the right to privacy and work; are all protected rights — not privileges — according to the Constitution and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Police, elected officials, educators, government employees, and lay people do not have the authority to hinder or prohibit citizens from: expressing their opinion or concerns; engaging the public; or participating in all levels of civic engagement, except of course in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice. This means, in part, that any orders, statutes or regulations that purport to deny to you your rights and freedoms, cannot be arbitrary, overbroad, or grossly disproportionate.

Of significance is the Supreme Court’s ruling that upheld the right to gather and protest, as was its analysis of the importance of freedom of expression: Garbeau v. Montreal (City of), 2015 QCCS 5246 (CanLII).

Know Your Rights Guidelines is a resource which includes relevant sections of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms:

Section 2 states that every person has the following four fundamental categories of freedoms and liberties:

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.

Freedom of speech is a principle that supports the freedom of an individual or a community to articulate their opinions and ideas without fear of retaliation, censorship, or legal sanction. The term “freedom of expression” is sometimes used synonymously but includes any act of seeking, receiving, and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used.

Guaranteed Right to not be Prohibited, Harassed or Detained

Section 7

• Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of the person and the right to not be deprived thereof except in accordance with the principles of fundamental justice.

Section 8

• Everyone has the right to be secure against unreasonable search and seizure.

Section 9

•Everyone has the right not to be arbitrarily detained or imprisoned.

Section 10

• Everyone has the right on arrest or detention (a) to be informed promptly of the reasons therefor; (b) to retain and instruct counsel without delay and to be informed of that right; and (c) to have the validity of the detention determined by way of habeas corpus and to be released if the detention is not lawful.

Privacy: The Supreme Court of Canada has emphasized in many cases, in the strongest possible terms that a citizen’s right to privacy is sacrosanct and subsumed in both s. 7 and 8 of the Charter and is of paramount importance to life, liberty, and security of the person, and protects citizens from unreasonable search and seizure.

This resource outlines scenarios of situations wherein these guidelines may be needed, including: what to bring to events and how to conduct yourself; handing out flyers/brochures/leaflets in a public space (eg. school sidewalk); attending a public meeting such as a council meeting or Board of Trustees meeting; or peaceful protests.

This resource also includes a section on how to interact with government agents/police. It can be printed or downloaded onto a phone for quick access.

Action4Canada has created many other resources, all of which are available on our website. We have recently updated most of our NOLs. Be sure to check back regularly for new or updated resources.

Action4Canada has also commenced legal action against the BC and Federal Government. To donate and learn more about our legal action, campaigns, wins and successes visit www.action4canada.com

Action4Canada is a grassroots movement that has been reaching out to millions of Canadians since 2015, to unite our voices in opposition to the destructive policies tearing at the fabric of this nation. Action4Canada provides an extensive catalogue of resources, including notices of liability, to educate, equip, empower and mobilize citizens. We are committed to protecting faith, family and freedom.

Learn more at Action4Canada.com