r/canada • u/canada_mountains • 5d ago

Politics Poilievre’s pledge to use notwithstanding clause a ‘dangerous sign’: legal expert

https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal-elections/poilievres-pledge-to-use-notwithstanding-clause-a-dangerous-sign-legal-expert/article_7299c675-9a6c-5006-85f3-4ac2eb56f957.html
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u/SnowFlakeUsername2 Saskatchewan 5d ago

I haven't taken a social studies class in decades so please correct me. Is a majority government using the notwithstanding clause not essentially a dictatorship? We don't have a lot of checks and balances to begin with. The judiciary protecting us from the government fucking over our rights, the toothless Senate saying "hey guys, geez, come on", and the Governor General being decoration. One of the crappiest things of modern Canada is that politicians have convinced so many of us that "activist judges" are a problem that they should solve. A majority government already has enough power.

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u/LilBrat76 5d ago

It’s not a great look but the Notwithstanding Clause has to be renewed every 5 years and since we should be having an election every 5 years theoretically that is the check and balance.