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Why Do Laws Change?
…What factors can cause changes to the law?
• Demographic Changes
• Technological Changes
• Changes in values
• National Emergencies
Demographics
The study of the characteristics of a population
Demographic Changes
• Rate of births/deaths – Canada – 1.5 (Replacement rate is 2.1)
• The average age (too high/too low-not good)
• Trends in: – Education– Immigration– Employment – Births/deaths– And other characteristics of the population.
Birth rates in Canada 2006/2007
Facts and Figures: Canadian Birth Rates
Canada's fertility rate fell to a record low in 2000, following ten straight years of decline in the number of births.
The fertility rate is currently 1.5 children per woman aged 15 to 49, well below the replacement rate of 2.1. This is among the lowest birth rates in the world, below Australia, France or Britain, but higher than Japan and Germany. (Fertility rate = the average number of children a woman in a given age group will have in her life)
• Industrial revolution rural to urban • Creation of Unions• Improved work conditions (Labour law)
• (war) women in workforce• Maternity leave (subsidized by government)• Paternity leave (200?)• Equal pay laws• Anti-discrimination laws
• Baby boomers reaching retirement:• Modifications to contributions to Canada Pension Plan • Mandatory retirement laws• Additional health care costs (public funding)• Special housing needs (public funding)
…Continued
• Reduction in birth rate:• Close schools• Paying more into pensions• Need for immigration
• Immigration:• Integration policies/programs• Education• Support• Work skills/training• Social issues
Technological Changes
Computers Internet: Pornography (child) Identity theft Credit card fraud Copyrights Defamation of character
Cell phones: Competition laws driving & talking/texting law public use of phone camera phones/privacy laws
Automobiles: Licensing safety standards emissions testing jurisdiction over roadways
Television / Radio: Advertising standards Censorship Competition Canadian content laws CRTC:
http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/home-accueil.htm
Space travel: Jurisdiction issues Safety/spending Spying/international laws
Changing valuesChanging values
What changed? What changed?
Why did it change?Why did it change?
Atitudes towards…Atitudes towards…
► WomenWomen► Aboriginal CanadiansAboriginal Canadians► ReligionReligion► SmokingSmoking► DrinkingDrinking► Animal rightsAnimal rights► AbortionAbortion► HomosexualityHomosexuality► Poverty/ the rest of the worldPoverty/ the rest of the world► Persons with disabilitiesPersons with disabilities► And more…And more…
• Graphic - Abortion
• Graphic - Famine
It takes time to fully comprehend, or accept, It takes time to fully comprehend, or accept, the negative consequences of certain the negative consequences of certain
behaviors: behaviors:
► Ex. Drunk DrivingEx. Drunk Driving► Ex. SmokingEx. Smoking
Attitudes…Attitudes…
►Towards Aboriginals: Towards Aboriginals: ► change in public perception, change in public perception,
understanding and awareness of the understanding and awareness of the relationship between Aboriginals and relationship between Aboriginals and the government.the government.
► Laws were passed prohibiting Laws were passed prohibiting construction projects on their ancestral construction projects on their ancestral lands and burial grounds as well as lands and burial grounds as well as granting some self-government.granting some self-government.
►Discrimination in general: Discrimination in general: ►RacismRacism►Discriminatory landlords, employersDiscriminatory landlords, employers►EquityEquity for the disabled for the disabled
►Values are always changing both for Values are always changing both for individuals and the collective.individuals and the collective.
- - people are influenced by otherspeople are influenced by others - what are the mediums of influence?- what are the mediums of influence?
►Are we progressing? Are we progressing?
… …relative moralism?relative moralism?
► Is society an experiment?Is society an experiment?
National Emergencies
• Parliament may pass special laws in response to national emergencies.
• Often intended to be temporary but then the are often never repealed (removed)
2 examples came into effect during World War 1:
• The War Measures Act: Allows the government to restrict our civil liberties. (Last
invoked during The October Crisis)
http://canadaonline.about.com/cs/octobercrisis/a/octobercrisistl.htm
• The Income Tax Act:
We have to pay tax on the money we earn!
(Both were originally enacted when Canada entered WW1)
…one of these was repealed, the other is still with us today.
• The events of September 11th were responded to by the passing of the Anti-
terrorism Act.• CBC News In Depth: Canadian se
curity
• Canadian Anti-Terrorism Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Department of Justice Site on ATA
• http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/rs/rep-rap/2005/rr05_11/p3.html
Highlights of the Anti-terrorism Act:• It gives the police wide, sweeping powers to act on suspected acts of
terrorism.
• It allows suspected terrorists to be detained without charge for up to three days.
• It makes it easier for the police to use electronic surveillance, which used to be seen as a last resort.
• It allows for preventive arrests.
• It allows judges to compel witnesses to give evidence during an investigation.
• It allows for the designation of a group as a terrorist organization.
• The legislation makes it a crime to: • Knowingly collect or provide funds, either directly or indirectly, in order
to carry out terrorist crimes.
On February 27, 2007, the House of Commons voted 159 - 124 against
renewing the provisions, which later led to the expiration of these
provisions.
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Anti-Terrorism_Act
Security Certificates
• Re: Class discussion Feb.8th
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_certificate
1867 Later…Factor responsible for
change
horse and buggy
steam engine
Technological advancement
factory workers
mostly men
factory workers
mostly women National EmergencyAbortion a
criminal actAbortion legal
Change in Values4 provincesin Canada
9 provinces and 2
territories in Canada
Demographic Change
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