Who do the individual rights in the Charter protect?

• A. Every person in Canada, regardless of citizenship.
• B. Only Canadian citizens.
• C. Only residents.
• D. Only those who can vote.

Answer: (A)

Rights in the Charter protect people, not just citizens. The Charter is written to shield anyone in Canada from government actions that infringe fundamental freedoms, equal treatment, or the rule of law. That means visitors, temporary residents, refugees, and permanent residents all enjoy these protections just as citizens do. A clear example is equality rights, which state that every individual has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law without discrimination. Some political rights, like voting, are limited to citizens, but the broad scope of the Charter is to guard any person inside Canada from unfair government action.