Opinion: Notwithstanding clause never meant to be used to benefit the government

I have a somewhat unusual relationship with Section 33 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Its existence is sometimes credited to former premier Peter Lougheed and Peter Meekison, and I sat at the cabinet table as minister of education when it was discussed as part of the whole patriation project. (In Alberta, there are other living former cabinet ministers who sat at the table at the time. And, across the country, there will be more.) Read More