Clément on Legacies and Implications of Canadian Human Rights Laws

Also appearing in the spring 2013 Canadian Issues / Thèmes Canadiens (Federalism and Identities) is Dominique Clément, "Legacies and Implications of Human Rights Law in Canada."

Here's the abstract:

The following article traces the historical evolution of human rights in law, political culture, social movements and foreign policy in Canada. It also documents the remarkable diversity of rights-claims by drawing on opinion polls, newspaper coverage and position papers of non-governmental organizations. Canadians' conceptions of rights have expanded so fast – and in such a short period of time – that human rights commissions are struggling to adapt. As a result, there is a backlash against human rights laws that threatens to undermine the system.