<P> One of the most notable effects of the adoption of the Charter was to greatly expand the scope of judicial review , because the Charter is more explicit with respect to the guarantee of rights and the role of judges in enforcing them than was the Bill of Rights . The courts , when confronted with violations of Charter rights , have struck down unconstitutional federal and provincial statutes and regulations or parts of statutes and regulations , as they did when Canadian case law was primarily concerned with resolving issues of federalism . The Charter , however , granted new powers to the courts to enforce remedies that are more creative and to exclude more evidence in trials . These powers are greater than what was typical under the common law and under a system of government that , influenced by Canada 's parent country the United Kingdom , was based upon Parliamentary supremacy . As a result , the Charter has attracted both broad support from a majority of the Canadian electorate and criticisms by opponents of increased judicial power . The Charter only applies to government laws and actions ( including the laws and actions of federal , provincial , and municipal governments and public school boards ) , and sometimes to the common law , not to private activity . </P>
who enforces the charter of rights and freedoms
courts