(Montreal, September 19, 2022) — For the second year in a row, Quebecers did not earn a passing grade! This is according to the results of Éducaloi’s 2022 Quiz, which tests people on knowledge of some basic legal concepts that apply in everyday life.
In total, some 7,200 people answered the 21-question quiz on subjects including rights and freedoms, labour standards, criminal law, driving laws, successions, consumer law, health, housing and contracts.
The three most challenging questions
Q19: At what age can a child be civilly responsible? (For example, if your child damages the neighbour’s house.) Answer: 7 years old
- 85 % of participants answered this question incorrectly.
Quebec courts have held that, around this age, children can understand right from wrong and can therefore be held responsible for their actions. However, it is only at age 12 that a child can be charged with a crime. That may have been a cause of confusion for many participants!
Q14: Which of the following things is NOT a landlord’s duty? Answer: Make all repairs in the apartment.
- 76 % of participants answered this question incorrectly.
A landlord is only responsible for doing necessary repairs.
Q16: How many breaks does an employer have to give employees during a workday? Answer: One 30-minute lunch break.
- 76 % of participants answered this question incorrectly
Your employer must give you a 30-minute break if you work at least five consecutive hours. This 30-minute break does not have to be paid. Of course, employers can pay for this break or give other breaks!
The three questions with the highest success rates
Q5: Under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, you have certain rights if you are ever arrested by the police. Which of the following is NOT one of those rights? Answer: The right to speak to a loved one.
- 91 % of participants answered this question correctly.
This right is not guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Q17: What’s the name of the legal concept that says that we are innocent until proven
guilty? Answer: The presumption of innocence.
- 91 % of participants answered this question correctly.
A person accused of a crime does not have to prove their innocence. Quebecers are clearly familiar with this principle!
Q13: True or false? If you buy a used car from another person, it can be repossessed if the seller had debt attached to the car. Answer: True
- 88 % of participants answered this question correctly.
It is important to check the Registre des droits personnels et reels mobiliers (registry of personal and real rights) to make sure that the car you would like to buy has no debts attached.
The big picture
- The overall average grade was 53 % (12/22)
- The two questions with the highest overall success rate (Q5 & Q17) had the same success rate among Francophones and Anglophones (91%)
- The most challenging question overall (Q19) was also the most difficult for both Francophones (15%) and Anglophones (12 %)
- There was no significant difference between women, men, and non-binary people
- For participants between 18 and 65, there was no notable difference between age groups
Statistics on participants
- 6 020 Francophones
- 1 099 Anglophones
- 62 % women
- 31 % men
- The 26-35 age group was the best represented, making up 20% of the participants
Legal education – essential!
Would you agree to play a game of cards without knowing the rules? Rights and responsibilities are the “rules of the game” of our society. Basic legal concepts come into play every day in our lives, so it is essential to understand them. To enhance people’s capacity to act, they must first be able to recognize the legal aspects of a situation. They must then know where to find the information they need.
Éducaloi’s website offers more than 1,500 articles, guides, pamphlets, videos, podcasts and other content to provide that information.
Legal education in schools is essential to prepare our youth to understand their rights and responsibilities. Teachers can use Éducaloi’s teaching tools free of charge to bring law into the classroom. They can also take advantage of our program of in-class workshops. This unique program makes it possible for teachers to have volunteer legal professionals lead classroom workshops. This is a way to introduce 12 to 17-year-olds to law in an entertaining manner and help them to develop their legal reflexes.
About Éducaloi
Founded in 2000, Éducaloi is a neutral and independent charitable organization with a recognized expertise in legal education and clear legal communication. Its mission is to explain the law to Quebecers in everyday language and to promote greater autonomy in legal matters for individuals and communities by making the law more accessible. Éducaloi is well-recognized for the conception and production of reliable and accessible legal information tools.
Éducaloi benefits from the financing of its partners: the Barreau du Québec, the Chambre des notaires du Québec, the Société québécoise d’information juridique, as well as the support of the Commission des services juridiques and the ministère de l’Éducation. Éducaloi’s operations are also supported by projects it takes on, from time to time, with other organizations, as well as partnership agreements and advisory services to businesses and other organizations. Éducaloi’s operations are also supported by its fundraising campaigns. For more information, please see: https://educaloi.qc.ca/en/ and https://www.educationjuridique.ca/en/ .
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Interviews :
- Me Ariane Charbonneau, lawyer and Executive Director of Éducaloi, is available to answer your questions.
SOURCE : ÉDUCALOI
INFORMATION FOR JOURNALISTS:
Katia Bouchard, Head of Communications and Philanthropy