What year was the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms entrenched in the Constitution?

The Constitution of Canada was amended in 1982 to entrench the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This event is illustrated in Discover Canada with a photograph captioned "Queen Elizabeth II proclaiming the amended Constitution, Ottawa, 1982."

The Charter is part of Canada's broader legal heritage, which Discover Canada describes as drawing on English common law, the civil code of France, and the unwritten constitution that we have inherited from Great Britain. The right of habeas corpus — the right to challenge unlawful detention by the state — comes from English common law and is one of the rights protected.

The Charter begins with the words: "Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the rule of law." This phrase, according to Discover Canada, underlines the importance of religious traditions to Canadian society and the dignity and worth of the human person.

The Charter summarizes fundamental freedoms while also setting out additional rights. Discover Canada lists the most important categories:

• Freedom of conscience and religion
• Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of speech and of the press
• Freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association
• Mobility Rights — Canadians can live and work anywhere in Canada, leave and re-enter the country freely, and apply for a passport
• Aboriginal Peoples' Rights — the Charter does not adversely affect any treaty or other Aboriginal rights
• Official Language Rights — French and English have equal status in Parliament and throughout the government
• Multiculturalism — described as a fundamental characteristic of the Canadian heritage and identity

These freedoms are paired with responsibilities, including obeying the law: Discover Canada states that one of Canada's founding principles is the rule of law, meaning individuals and governments are regulated by laws and not by arbitrary actions, and no person or group is above the law.