Read the op-ed we just published in Le Devoir about our Bill 21 challenge.
“The Supreme Court of Canada will have to decide whether there are limits to how the notwithstanding clause can be used. Could a government invoke it to ban abortion? To criminalize political speech critical of the government? To legalize torture? According to the Quebec government’s logic, even in such cases, the courts would not only be powerless but also bound to silence. This is spine-chilling.”
“Beyond the strictly legal debate, it will be up to the people of Quebec to take a stand on the morality and political legitimacy of invoking the notwithstanding clause. Will we tolerate elected officials invoking it on a regular basis to deprive certain groups of their rights? Or will we demand that our governments clearly define the conditions for its use, as suggested by the CCLA and the Quebec Bar Association?”
“The answers we collectively provide to these questions are crucial: they will shape the Quebec of tomorrow. A Quebec where, hopefully, we can tell our children that they can pursue any career they want, regardless of their religion or how they dress.”
About the Canadian Civil Liberties Association
The CCLA is an independent, non-profit organization with supporters from across the country. Founded in 1964, the CCLA is a national human rights organization committed to defending the rights, dignity, safety, and freedoms of all people in Canada.
For the Media
For further comments, please contact us at media@ccla.org.
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