A Right to Privacy

Description

This activity gets students thinking about why privacy rights are protected. Learning tools include three real court decisions, discussion questions, a simulated negotiation session and a writing exercise. Students are called on to take a position on how privacy rights are defined in Canada.

Educational objectives

• To learn more about the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, privacy rights and their application in school
• To learn about how judges reach decisions
• To learn to effectively express an opinion during a discussion
• To practise writing an article or personal reflection

Subjects and subject-specific competencies

Culture and Citizenship in Québec - Secondary I

Cultural realities and compulsory main concepts: Collective life and public space - Public space and private space.

Compulsory specific concepts, and related topics and examples: Shifting boundaries between the public and private (due especially to the development of digital technology).

• Competency 2: Reflects on ethical questions:
  • Examines a variety of points of view:
    • Considers points of view and experiences.
    • Compares reference points.
    • Evaluates the reasoning being used.

English Language Arts

• (Option A) Competency 2: Represents her/his literacy in different media
• (Option B) Competency 1: Uses language/talk to communicate and to learn

Duration

2 periods

Connections with other subjects

• History of Quebec and Canada:
  • Societal choices in contemporary Quebec (Proclamation of the Constitution Act, 1982)

Broad areas of learning

• Media Literacy: Knowledge of and respect for individual and collective rights and responsibilities regarding the different media
• Health and Well-Being: Self-awareness and awareness of his/her basic needs

Cross-curricular competencies

• Uses information: Gathers information and puts it to use
• Exercises critical judgment: Forms and expresses his/her opinion
• Communicates appropriately

Related content

• Differences Between Civil Trials and Criminal or Penal Trials (video or text)

External pedagogical tools

• Pedagogical resources provided by MediaSmart
• Équijustice (association of Quebec’s alternative justice organizations): several mediation tools and services (French only)
• Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada : resources for teachers
• Cliquer Justice: video on privacy rights (French only)

External resources

• Decision of the Supreme Court of Canada: R. v. Patrick
• Decision of the Supreme Court of Canada: R. v. A.M.
• Decision of Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice: Leduc v. Roman