MPP wants warnings if bills affect charter rights

Liberal MPP Nathalie Des Rosiers wants the provincial government to be more transparent about overriding charter rights.

Des Rosiers, a legal scholar and co-editor of the Oxford Handbook of the Canadian Constitution, said Monday there must be greater scrutiny when governments decide to invoke the “notwithstanding clause.” That’s why she is tabling private member’s legislation so Ontarians would be told when any government bills or regulations may violate rights.

It would also force the attorney general to table legal arguments used to justify such moves. Premier Doug Ford, elected in June, threatened to use the measure for the first time in Ontario history — to slash the size of Toronto city council — and has warned he “won’t be shy” about doing so again if courts try to thwart him.

“This is a government that may be willing, quite readily, to violate our charter rights,” said Des Rosiers (Ottawa-Vanier).

“So this private member’s bill, if passed, would oblige the attorney general to inform the house — and to inform Ontarians — about what the possible violations would be of their rights,” she said, noting the charter is essential in protecting the rights of all: “anyone who is a member of a religious minority, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh and Mennonite.”

“I think today we particularly are sensitive to the way in which we must protect the rights of religious minorities throughout the world.”