Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Section 15 Amendment

From: John Ames Birch <amesbirch403@gmail.com> Date: Fri., Jul. 29, 2022, 3:13 p.m. Subject: Charter of Rights and Freedoms - Section 15 Amendment To: <justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca>, <chrystia.freeland@parl.gc.ca>, <administration@ccla.org>, <aimember@aiusa.org>, aclupreferences <aclupreferences@aclu.org>, <Bernadette.Jordan@parl.gc.ca>, <cameron.barr@washpost.com>, <sally.buzbee@washpost.com>, Ben Stephens <ben@francetoday.com>, Blanchet, Yves-François - Député <yves-francois.blanchet@parl.gc.ca>, <ContactUsEn@pmo.gov.il>, <community@texastribune.org>, Liberal Party of Canada <assistance@liberal.ca>, <David.Lametti@parl.gc.ca>, David Hulen <dhulen@adn.com>, Duclos, Jean-Yves - Député <jean-yves.duclos@parl.gc.ca>, Garneau, Marc - Député <marc.garneau@parl.gc.ca>, <elizabeth.may.c1a@parl.gc.ca>, <efren.zamudio@oregon.gov>, <Fadi.El-Abdallah@icc-cpi.int>, <externalrelations@csis.org>, <ecampaign@gop.com>, <e.info@nwthumanrights.ca>, <emily.zalenski@warnerbros.com>, Tom Engel <tomengel@engellaw.ca>, <Francois.Legault.ASSO@assnat.qc.ca>, <fkalmbach@theadvocate.com>, <focus.canada@focusha.org>, Fisher, Gordon <gfisher@postmedia.com>, Forsætisráðuneytið <for@for.is>, <govpress@la.gov>, <GovernorRon.Desantis@eog.myflorida.com>, <gmcdonald@alabamanews.net>, <guestcare@carnival.com>, Guy Hibbert <guy@francetoday.com>, <hotline@ccteht.ca>, <hcenquiries@parliament.uk>, Haley Christensen <haley@sabis.ab.ca>, Reed Hastings <rhastings@netflix.com>, <info@homewardtrust.ca>, <illinoisnewstoday@gmail.com>, <Info@gregabbott.com>, <info@shdlawyers.ca>, Kate Brown For Oregon Information <info@katebrownfororegon.com>, Johnston, Patrick <pjohnston@postmedia.com>, <kgchaumont@fbi.gov>, <KathyCrawford@house.mi.gov>, <kprice@amnesty.ca>, <kmonague@nwac.ca>, <kf@china.com>, <kelly@wssdc.com>, <kdundar@hdn.com.tr>, <lethbridge@globalnews.ca>, <liaisonofficeny@icc-cpi.int>, <lapointe@economicclub.ca>, <Letters@calgaryherald.com>, <Lerb@gov.ab.ca>, Lisa Lopez <Lisa.Lopez@gov.ab.ca>, <murbina@fbi.gov>, <melanie.joly@parl.gc.ca>, <media.sf@fbi.gov>, EDC Minister <education.minister@gov.ab.ca>, Minister, AGRI AGRI:EX <AGR.Minister@gov.bc.ca>, mediainquiries <mediainquiries@who.int>, <News@hawaiinewsnow.com>, <newsdesk@krqe.com>, <new.scotland.yard@met.police.uk>, NCTE <ncte@transequality.org>, <news@arkansasonline.com>, NWAC Reception <reception@nwac.ca>, News@KelownaNow.com <News@kelownanow.com>, Naacp <washingtonbureau@naacpnet.org>, <osd.pentagon.pa.mbx.ce-public-inquiries@mail.mil>, <Oprah@oprah.com>, <otp.informationdesk@icc-cpi.int>, <office@freedomlaw.ca>, <ombudsman-communications@forces.gc.ca>, <pitches@texastribune.org>, <premier@ontario.ca>, <premier@novascotia.ca>, <premier@gov.yk.ca>, <premier@gov.nt.ca>, <premier@gov.pe.ca>, <premier@gov.ab.ca>, <premier@gov.sk.ca>, <premier@gov.bc.ca>, <premier@gov.nl.ca>, <Colleen.Quinn@mass.gov>, Qualtrough, Carla - M.P. <Carla.Qualtrough@parl.gc.ca>, <report@aiusa.org>, <Roshunda.Ward@la.gov>, Rota, Anthony - Riding 1B <Anthony.Rota.C1B@parl.gc.ca>, <sabrina.bhojani@ubc.ca>, Sky.Today <Sky.Today@sky.uk>, Shawn Sidhu <ssidhu@sidhuinjurylaw.com>, <tracy.mcphee@gov.yk.ca>, <tonews@cbc.ca>, tips@GlobalTVBC.com <Tips@globaltvbc.com>, <usaf.il.183-fw.list.public-affairs@mail.mil>, <us@ocasiocortez.com>, <contact.us@adcci.gov.ae>, <pro.ukk@kln.gov.my>, <Vincent.A.Steves@abc.com>, <ViewerContactCalgary@globalnews.ca>, <ViewerContactToronto@globalnews.ca>, <ViewerContactEdmonton@globalnews.ca>, <dujarric@un.org>, <jagmeet.singh@parl.gc.ca>, <vetscanada@gmail.com>, <WPmedia@hkstrategies.ca>, <we.care@hopemission.com>, <wayne.panton@gov.ky>, <WeekendNews@globaltv.com>, <YourQuestions@bbc.co.uk> Cc: <lawsociety@lso.ca>, <lethbridge@globalnews.ca>, <laurie.chan@uottawa.ca>, <Lerb@gov.ab.ca>, <amarjeet.sohi@edmonton.ca>, <sencom@sen.parl.gc.ca>, <Anita.Anand@parl.gc.ca>, <anderson.cooper@turner.com>, <asis@asisonline.org>, <asketc@microsoft.com>, <AskDOJ@usdoj.gov>, <EGLE-Assist@michigan.gov>, <receptionmhsa@gmail.com>, <reportit@kxan.com>, <callum.baird@thenational.scot>, <CanadaMediaRelations@chevron.com>, <carly.ferguson@blackpress.ca>, <CAPrivacy@wal-mart.com>, <peter.bethlenfalvy@pc.ola.org>, <css.heritage@gov.ab.ca>, CSS AB Works IS <abworksIS@gov.ab.ca>, <css.minister@gov.ab.ca> Hey Everyone, I am writing to you today to discuss a new protected ground under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Presently section 15 states: Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability. Additional protected grounds are: Non-citizenship Marital status Sexual orientation Aboriginality-residence These protected grounds are enshrined in law in an effort to ensure all peoples are protected within our society. Recently, the homeless epidemic has erupted across the planet. I am presently homeless and have visibility on this issue. I have faced discrimination based on my housing status on a number of occasions. People assume that if your homeless that you are either a drug addict or a criminal. I have been asked to leave public events, been accused of crimes in stores and been sneered at as I walk down the street. Section 15 states: "As articulated by the Supreme Court in its first section 15 case and subsequently reaffirmed, “[t]he promotion of equality entails the promotion of a society in which all are secure in the knowledge that they are recognized at law as human beings equally deserving of concern, respect and consideration” (R. v. Kapp, [2008] 2 S.C.R. 483 at paragraph 15 citing Andrews v. Law Society of British Columbia, [1989] 1 S.C.R. 143, at 171, per McIntyre J.). See also more recently Quebec (A.G.) v. A, [2013] 1 S.C.R. 61, at paragraph 417, where McLachlin C.J., concurring with the majority on section 15, noted that discrimination perpetuates or promotes “the view that the individual is less capable or worthy of recognition or value as a human being or as a member of Canadian society, equally deserving of concern, respect, and consideration.” Therefore, any type of Discrimination creates a society of unequal landscapes for those without housing. Certain tasks like finding food, shelter or a washroom are difficult when your homeless. Furthermore, common diseases and afflictions are more common while homeless which compounds the struggle. Currently, our judicial system provides for each inmate. If they are provided for in our society under our judicial system then in turn must be provided for beyond the judicial system. The following caselaw supports utilizing charter arguments beyond the justice system. These arguments are also supported by section 7.

Gosselin v. Québec (Attorney General), 2002 SCC 84 (CanLII), [2002] 4 SCR 429, <https://canlii.ca/t/1g2w1>, retrieved on 2022-07-21 While usually applied in criminal proceedings the above indicates that it can be applied in other venues.

"Although the appellant failed to establish a violation of s. 7 of the Charter in this case, for the reasons stated by the majority, it is not appropriate, at this point, to rule out the possibility that s. 7 might be invoked in circumstances unrelated to the justice system." Furthermore, the detox system also provides for residents and while in such a facility and they receive welfare. However, the shelter system differs. From my understanding when in a shelter all funds are removed which I've stated is discriminatory to those without homes. Given that other programs allow welfare to be paid this disproportionately affects the homeless and therefore is discriminatory under Section 15. Given that this disproportionately affects the homeless I am of the belief that housing status needs to be included as a protected ground under Section 15. Our society has come a long way from its inception. We have stumbled at times but we rose to create new laws to defend our people. The balance of institutions is thusly, to find equilibrium between collective good and individual rights. We therefore need to evolve our standards as society evolves. To that end, we need to look at homelesness as a societal problem and treat those without homes with respect and dignity. This is what it means to be a member of our collective society, this is what it means to be Canadian. In closing, I am humbly asking the government and courts review homeless discrimination for inclusion under section 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. "Rights are just words without actions to defend them". John Ames Birch @johneames2