Fundamental freedoms from state control include the right to peaceful assembly, freedom of expression, security of the person, and mobility rights to enter and to move within Canada.

These freedoms were only explicitly guaranteed to persons in Canada in our Constitution by virtue of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (“the Charter”) in 1982. In the last four decades since the entrenchment of the Charter in our Constitution, Canada has witnessed an evolving discussion in our courts as to what Charter protected civil rights mean in a practical sense.

We help clients understand when the Charter applies against government action or legislation and the modalities of how to advocate for their rights in a cost effective manner that is responsive to their interests.

As an area of increasing concern since the so-called “Global War on Terror”, we have also developed specialized experience advising and representing clients in the context of surveillance, and unsolicited and sometimes harassing interviews by the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS). To this end, we provide advice and representation to persons who because of their religion, cultural affiliations, country of origin or personal associations find themselves and their families the subject of state surveillance or unwanted home or workplace visits.