Defining

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Defining Democracy
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• Two of the key principles of Canadian democracy
  that will be explored here are the ideas of open
  government and individual rights.

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Canadian Democracy means democracy
broadly defined, rule by the people, or self-rule
Open Government People know about governments
activities People can question the
governments actions People can influence the
government to change (e.g. protests, petitions,
lobbying, letters to the editor, create a
Facebook page, etc).
Individual Rights Privilege which is granted or
a legal entitlement given to individuals by their
government E.g. UN Universal Declaration of
Human Rights Canadian Charter of Rights and
Freedoms Freedom of information, protection of
privacy.

• Protection of Privacy
• an individuals right to have certain
  information about him/herself protected.
• To show its commitment to this value, the
  federal government passed the Privacy Act on July
  1, 1983 to replace some limited personal
  information rights set out in Part IV of the
  Canadian Human Rights Act

• Freedom of Information
• Citizens have the right to ask government for
  information it holds.
• To show its commitment to openness, the federal
  government passed the Access to Information Act
  on July 1, 1983.