By Jason Botelho, Associate
Canada’s legal system has seen many fascinating developments over the years. The Quebec Act of 1774, provided us with two systems of law which makes us very unique to other nations. The Quebec Act established the “civil law” system used in Quebec and the common law system which is used in the rest of the provinces. In the Quebec civil law system, a written Civil Code sets out standards of acceptable behaviour or conduct in private legal relationships. The Civil Law system then uses court decisions to interpret the intentions of lawmakers. Conversely, the common law system of justice relies on the historical record of court interpretations of laws over the years.
Additionally, in 1982, the Charter of Rights of Freedoms, was entrenched in our Constitution and provides each of us various individual rights and limits the ability of governments to infringe these rights. Included in our rights are the right to liberty, equality, freedom of religion, freedom of expression, freedom to associate with a group and to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Along with these fascinating developments are, what I would classify, some peculiar entries to the Canadian legal frame work.
The following are some of the most interesting laws I could find, courtesy of Google, in Ontario and the whole of Canada:
Nation wide
- 30% of a radio stations content must be "Canadian Content"
- You may not pay for a fifty-cent item with only pennies.
- Citizens may not publicly remove bandages.
- It is illegal for clear or non-dark sodas to contain caffeine.
Ontario Provincial Laws
- The speed limit is 80 km per hour for cars, but bicyclists have the right of way.
City Laws
Etobicoke
- Bylaw states that no more than 3.5 inches of water is allowed in a bathtub.
Cobourg
- If you have a water trough in your front yard it must be filled by 5:00 a.m.
Gananoque
- Homeowners are responsible for clearing snow off of municipal sidewalks.
Guelph
- The city is classified as a no-pee zone.
Kanata
- The colour of house and garage doors is regulated by city bylaws (a purple door get you a fine). It is also illegal to have a clothes line in your backyard.
- You can't work on your car in the street.
Oshawa
- It's illegal to climb trees.
- Homeowners are responsible for clearing snow off of municipal sidewalks. If sidewalks is not cleaned within 24 hours after a snowfall, city workers will clean it and the cost will be placed on the homeowners tax bill.
Ottawa
- It is illegal to eat ice-cream on Bank Street on a Sunday.
Toronto
- You can't drag a dead horse down Yonge St. on a Sunday.
Uxbridge
- Residents are not allowed to have an Internet connection faster than 56k.
Wawa
- You may not paint a ladder as it will be slippery when wet.
- It is illegal to show public affection on Sunday.