• Individual Rights
  • Government's Role
  • Civil Order
  • Social Concerns
  • Defence/Foreign Policy
  • Trade/Economy

Libertarian Party Objectives
Individual Rights

There are no other rights but individual rights, and these rights are inviolable - which essentially means that they are carved in stone.

We hold that each individual has the right to exercise sole dominion over her/his life, and to live in whatever manner she/he may choose, so long as she/he does not violate the equal rights of others.

Each individual must have the right to self-determination, the necessary extension of the right to life, which should render illegal any attempt to aggress against any individual or to seize the product of his/her labour.

Discrimination
We believe that no individual rights should be denied or abridged by the laws or actions of the Government of Canada or the government of any political subdivision thereof, because of race religion, sex, age, or any other characteristic or because of personal non-criminal activity.

Freedom of Speech and Assembly
We are opposed to all forms of government censorship. We oppose all laws which restrict individual freedom to conduct public demonstrations, speeches, or exhibits, or to canvass for any reason. Abuses in any of the above-mentioned areas can be dealt with through laws such as the laws of contract and laws prescribing trespass, destruction of private property, fraud, and assault.

Freedom of the Media
We oppose government control or ownership of any medium of communication. Therefore we support the following: the repeal of all laws prohibiting, licensing, regulating, taxing, or subsidizing the production, sale, or advertisement of any books, magazines, newspapers, and films; the abolition of media regulatory agencies, such as the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission; the sale of such agencies as the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and the National Film Board to private enterprise; constitutional guarantees of free speech which would apply to all communications media; and the development of an objective system of law defining individual property rights to "air waves"

Freedom of Association
We support the right of individuals to join voluntarily, or to refrain from joining, any association, club, society, or other organization.

Freedom of Religion
We defend the right of individuals to engage in any religious activities which do not violate the rights of others. In order to defend religious freedom, we advocate a strict separation of church and state. We oppose taxation of church property for the same reasons we oppose all other taxation.

Freedom of Contract
We believe that governments should not impose any contractual stipulations on any personal arrangements such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, or adoption. Any type of voluntary, personal contract must be eligible for protection by law.

Property Rights
We hold that property rights are entitled to the same respect and protection as other individual rights, because the owner of property has the full moral right to control, use, dispose of, or in any manner enjoy her/his property without interference, until and unless the exercise of her/his control infringes upon the rights of others.

Land Use
The activity of land use planning is properly the responsibility and right of the owner(s) of the land. We therefore urge an end to all government interference in the planning process through such methods as expropriation, zoning laws or building codes, regional planning, or the acquisition of land or other real property with tax money. We call for the repeal of all laws regulating the use of private property.

Right to Privacy
We oppose covert government surveillance of individuals, where such surveillance violates the personal or property rights of any individual. Any national census or other government compilation of data on individuals, groups, or corporations must properly be conducted on a strictly voluntary basis.

Right to Self-Protection
We hold that the individual has the right to own and bear arms. Consequently we oppose restrictions on the ownership or use of guns or any other arms. General arms restrictions deprive the individual of his/her right to self-defense in an emergency situation while leaving the criminal fully armed. We propose, as an alternative to general arms restriction, the imposition of severe penalties for the criminal abuse of this right, thus placing the blame for armed crime where it properly belongs - on the criminal.

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