According to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, what must individuals be informed of during an arrest or detention?

Individuals must be informed of their legal rights during an arrest or detention as stipulated in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. This principle is grounded in the fundamental rights and freedoms that ensure a fair legal process. Specifically, Section 10 of the Charter states that everyone has the right on arrest or detention to be informed promptly of the reasons for the arrest and to retain and instruct counsel without delay. This right is essential for protecting individuals from arbitrary detention and ensuring they can effectively exercise their legal rights and defenses.

While access to food and water, personal information requirements, and access to belongings may be important considerations in a detention scenario, they do not have the same constitutional grounding as the right to be informed of legal rights. Thus, the emphasis is placed on the necessity for individuals to understand their rights in order to seek legal representation and understand the proceedings they are facing.