Group Identity: Supreme Court and Identity Politics

group identity: In a wide-ranging speech to mark the 150th anniversary of Canada's constitution, Supreme Court of Canada Justice Richard Wagner offered a candid look at how identity politics have played out in the courts since the Charter of Rights' equality guarantees took effect in 1985, according to Toronto Star. He ended his remarks on an optimistic note, saying judges understand questions of personal and group identity better now and analyze claims of discrimination in a way that aims to ensure substantive equality. Sean Kilpatrick / THE CANADIAN PRESS file photo By Tonda Mac Charles Ottawa Bureau reporter Thu., March 9, 2017 OTTAWA A Supreme Court judge says Canadians should not worry about the arrival of refugees and migrants because Canada has the legal tools to ensure human rights and Canadian democratic values are respected when different cultural identities clash. Wagner said the notions of identity, human dignity and democratic values permeate the Charter and lay the foundations for looking beyond our own borders. Article Continued Below Speaking to reporters later, Wagner acknowledged that, while his speech was delivered to a legal and academic audience, there was a message for Canadians concerned about the influx of refugees and migrants. We can welcome refugees and migrants with the confidence that our society is able not only to manage our differences, but to thrive on them, said Wagner. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.