Source: Toronto law firm.....
https://criminaltriallawyers.ca/?q=know-your-rights
Your rights as an individual are enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
These rights protect us from arbitrary and unreasonable exercises of police power, such as illegal searches or unlawful intrusions into our privacy.
The Charter is crucial where an accused person is being prosecuted based on illegally obtained evidence. When police breach Charter rights, the illegally obtained evidence can be excluded from the trial, meaning that the prosecution is not allowed to rely on it to prove guilt.
Most people do not fully understand the importance of our rights until they are charged with a crime. Below you can find explanations of the practical protections that our rights provide. This should not be taken as legal advice for any specific situation. When in doubt, contact one of us to determine what your options are in dealing with an interaction with police.
Your Rights in Your Home
A man’s home is his castle. This is not just a common saying; it is a centuries-old principle which is enshrined in our Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The police or other law enforcement authorities can only lawfully enter your home under certain circumstances – otherwise they are the same as any trespasser. The home is seen under our law as the most private place, but there are exceptions to your protection against police intrusion.
Police Coming to Your Door: Any person, including a police officer, has your implied consent to walk onto your property for the purpose of communicating to you at your front door. If the police have a legitimate reason for communicating with you, such as responding to a call or seeking information for an investigation, then there is nothing wrong with this. Police are not, however, entitled to abuse this ability by using it to conduct a “sniff” test – just going to the front door to see whether there is any sign of criminal activity when someone answers the knock. There is also no obligation to answer the door when the police come knocking. There is no obligation to speak to the police at your door, and you can end any conversation with them whenever you choose.
Police Entering Your Home by Invitation: The police may come to your door to speak with you and in the process ask if they can come inside. You do not have to let them enter, but they are allowed to under law if you give them permission. If you are not sure whether to grant this permission, contact one of us before making this decision.
Giving the police permission to enter your home is not the same as giving them permission to search your home, but police may ask to do this as well and you may grant it. If you give police permission to search your home, then they can do so without a warrant. A search of your home by police is a serious intrusion of your constitutionally protected privacy interests and you should consult a lawyer for legal advice before making this decision.
Search Warrants: A search warrant is a judicial authorization to enter and search a place for evidence of a crime. They are often used for the search and seizure of illegal drugs or firearms, but may be related to a search for evidence of any crime. It may authorize the police to enter at night, and it may authorize the police to use force in making their entry. Police can detain the people found in the home while the search is being conducted, and may make arrests or lay charges based on what is found. The police may also seize any number of items found during a search in pursuit of their investigation. The validity of search warrants can be challenged later in court, and issues related to the release of items that are seized can also be dealt with later. Anything that is seized as evidence will likely be held at least until the related charges are over.