Canadian Law
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects human rights in Canada. You are protected under this law, which is part of the Canadian constitution.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada website has useful information on what you should know about:
- Children's rights
- Women's rights
- Seniors' rights
- Language rights
- Domestic violence
Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)
Many newcomers are so busy getting settled, they often are not aware of their rights in Canada.
To help newcomers better understand what some of their basic rights are, Community Legal Education Ontario has launched:
- a series of information sheets in many languages and
- a multilingual legal referral hotline:
Findhelp at 1-866-667-5366.
In addition to English and French, the service provides legal rights information, support and referrals in Arabic, Chinese, Somali, Spanish, Tamil and Urdu.
Summary Legal Advice in French
1 877 966 7345 is a free and confidential service available Monday through Friday, from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. dedicated to providing summary legal advice in French for the Region of Peel. They offer summary advice in areas such as immigration, housing (tenants’ rights), social assistance, employment standards, consumers’ rights, etc.
You and the police
Members of the Peel Regional Police are people from our community who are working to make our lives safer. They serve the people in a fair and professional manner.
Visit Peel Regional Police website for information about policing, such as:
Information is also available in Punjabi, Urdu, Vietnamese, Chinese and Polish.
- How to contact the police
- What happens when you have contact with the police
- Duties of police officers
- List of locations of police stations and community police stations in Mississauga and Brampton
- How to make a complaint against a police officer
- Police employment
Getting legal aid
Legal aid is available if you need legal help but cannot afford lawyer's fees. Legal Aid Ontario provides help for a variety of legal problems, including criminal matters, family disputes and immigration and refugee hearings.
They offer different kinds of services, depending on the client's needs. Legal assistance is available through the certificate program, which entitles clients to receive advice and representation by private lawyers or by legal aid staff lawyers. To apply for a legal aid certificate, you must attend in person at a local Legal Aid office:
- Legal Aid Ontario
205 County Court Blvd. Suite 200
Brampton, ON L6W 4R6
Tel: 905-453-1723
If you are eligible for legal aid, you can get a legal aid certificate that you can take to the lawyer of your choice. Legal assistance is also available relating to tenancies, Ontario Works and disabilities through the community legal clinics.
Peel Region has two legal clinics:
- Mississauga Community Legal Services
130 Dundas St. E Suite 504A
Mississauga, ON L5A 3V8
Tel: 905-896-2050 - North Peel & Dufferin Community Legal Services
24 Queen St. E Suite 601
Brampton, ON L6V 1A3
Te: 905- 455-0160
The Law Society of Upper Canada offers public legal information, including how to find a lawyer.
The Law Society of Upper Canada also offers a Lawyer Referral Service.
- You can get a referral to a lawyer in your area and a 30 minute consultation for free by calling: 1-800-268-8326 or 416-947-3330 (in the GTA)
Resources
- Employment Law
- Tenants' Rights and Responsibilities
- Legal Line - provides free legal information to Canadians through its website.
- CLEO - Immigration and Refugee Law provides publications on legal topics relating to immigrants and refugees.
- CLEO - Legal Services Information provides publications on getting legal help.