Your Responsibilities

In the same way that the law protects you from discrimination, the law says you have a responsibility to respect other people’s rights. For example, your right to freedom of religion means you must respect the beliefs of others.

You must respect the rights of other people even if you don’t like or don’t approve of those rights.

For example: Irena doesn’t approve of gay couples. Her culture and religion doesn’t accept them. However, in Canada, she cannot discriminate against them.

You also have responsibilities to the community as a whole. Because you can make use of social services in Canada, you must pay your share of the taxes that finance those services.

Canadian laws aim to balance rights and responsibilities.

For example: When you rent a place to live, you have the right to the quiet enjoyment of your home. Your neighbours also have this right. This means you have a responsibility not to make noise that disturbs your neighbors. And your neighbors have a responsibility not to make noise that disturbs you.