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