Este artículo examina el estado constitucional de la libertad de conciencia en Canadá. Analiza cómo se ha movilizado en diversos entornos, especialmente en los campos de la atención de la salud (derechos reproductivos y asistencia médica al morir) y el servicio militar. Observa que la naturaleza bastante insondable de la "conciencia" dificulta que los tribunales de justicia pongan en práctica la libertad de conciencia, por lo que a menudo se prefieren otros derechos o libertades como fundamento de las sentencias.
INTRODUCTION _ 1. FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE IN CANADA: CONSTITUTIONAL ORIGINS AND JURISPRUDENTIAL SYNOPSIS _ 1.1 Constitutional origins _ 1.2 Freedom of conscience: a synopsis of the case law _ 2. FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE IN HEALTHCARE _ 2.1 Freedom of conscience and Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) _ 2.2 Freedom of conscience and reproductive rights _ 3. FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE AND MILITARY SERVICE _ 4. INSTITUTIONAL CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION _ CONCLUSION.
This article examines the constitutional status of freedom of conscience in Canada. It looks at how it has been mobilized in various settings, notably in the fields of health care (reproductive rights and medical assistance in dying), and military service. It observes that the rather unfathomable nature of “conscience” makes it difficult for courts of law to operationalize freedom of conscience, as a result of which other rights or freedoms are often preferred as foundations for rulings.