Ontario Premier Doug Ford criticized the federal government for filing a motion with the Supreme Court around limiting the use of the notwithstanding clause, calling it a “disaster” and saying it will likely be blocked by the provinces.
“This is the worst decision Prime Minister [Mark] Carney has ever done, and it will be an absolute disaster, and I don’t believe it’s going to go through. It just takes Quebec and Ontario to block it,” Ford said during a press conference in Vaughan on Sept. 25.
Federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser recently filed a factum with the Supreme Court outlining the government’s position on “constitutional issues raised” by the use of Section 33 of the Charter, also known as the notwithstanding clause. That clause allows the federal and provincial governments to override some provisions of the Charter by enacting a law, and also prevents judicial review of the legislation for five years….