Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Suzanne Anton has issued the following statement to mark the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta:

“Today, we mark an extraordinary and historic occasion - the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta—a day that is significant for all British Columbians and our province’s justice system. Magna Carta is of vital importance because the peaceful, lawful, respectful society, in which we have the great good fortune to live, can be traced back to the sealing of this famous document.

“On this date in 1215, King John of England put his royal seal on a document which came to be known as Magna Carta. After a tumultuous beginning and several revisions in the 13th century, it became English law in 1297. Its most important clause, which is recognized as underlying the principle of the rule of law, was brought to North America.

“As Attorney General of British Columbia and the province’s chief law officer, I am keenly aware of Magna Carta’s significance, as well as its place at the very heart of the law. This momentous document has had an enduring impact by providing a foundation to ensure that individual liberties are protected within the context of peaceful, orderly government. The rule of law, on which our society in British Columbia and Canada is founded, applies to all of us.

“The Supreme Court of Canada, Canada’s highest court, has directly cited Magna Carta as underlying the principles of democracy, the right to a trial which is fair, meaningful and held within a reasonable period of time, and habeus corpus (or the right to determine the legality of imprisonment). Many provisions of Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms echo these rights and guarantees.

“The principles of Magna Carta form the foundation of many of the policies, programs and projects the Ministry of Justice is undertaking to transform our modern-day justice system. We are focused on providing an innovative, 21st-century system that helps British Columbians navigate their legal matters quickly and easily. Through the implementation of these changes, we’re increasing efficiencies, cutting costs for and providing British Columbians with the legal services they need, when and where they need them. 

“On this day, I ask all British Columbians to consider the significance of this 800th anniversary of Magna Carta, a document that is understood to be the foundation of the protections for our rights and freedoms as citizens.”

Media Contacts:

Ministry of Justice
Government Communications and Public Engagement
250 208-0618