Understanding Your Rights in Canada

Interacting with the legal system can be scary and overwhelming. However, it is very important to be aware of the legal rights you have as a resident of Canada. Knowledge is power, and learning more about the laws that affect your life here will help prepare you for any difficult situations you might encounter.

This series of posts covers three important topics:

• Your rights when interacting with police

• Your rights as a tenant

• Your rights as a worker

This series provides a brief overview of some important things to know about various parts of the Canadian legal system. It is not a comprehensive guide, nor is it legal advice for any specific situation.

If you need legal advice, you should contact a lawyer or a community legal clinic (CLC). CLCs offer free legal advice for low-income people and people who may have other barriers to accessing legal help. You can visit Legal Aid to search for a CLC near you. You can also call Pro Bono Ontario’s free legal advice hotline at 1-855-255-7256.

If you are not ready to talk to a lawyer about your specific situation, Steps to Justice has answers to many legal questions and lists simple steps to take to resolve common legal issues.