By S. N. Smith
S. N. Smith is concerned about Pierre Poilievre's stance on section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, also known as the notwithstanding clause. Poilievre is currently leading the Conservative Party of Canada and the Official Opposition and is likely to be Canada's next prime minister. If elected, Poilievre has promised to invoke this clause on a number of issues. Section 2 (basic freedoms), sections 7 through 14 (legal rights), and section 15 (equality rights) of the Charter are among the portions that Parliament may remove, circumvent, or otherwise modify under the notwithstanding clause 33. These sections address legal rights, equality rights, and fundamental freedoms. Section 33 prevents judicial review under the specified sections of the Charter once it is invoked!
