PANDORA’S BOX?

Re Ford To Override Election-Spending Ruling (June 10): Between them, Quebec’s François Legault and Ontario’s Doug Ford have exposed the fatal flaw in the notwithstanding clause. Those who drafted Section 33 of the Charter intended that it only be used in “extraordinary circumstances,” but they appear to have left the interpretation of that phrase entirely open. Quebec has now used it to protect legislation restricting religious rights and in Ontario Mr. Ford is using it to restrict Charter rights to freedom of expression. These unintended consequences suggest that Section 33 has become a Pandora’s box. If the notwithstanding clause provides a shield protecting such discriminatory and partisan legislation, where willi tall end?

One shudders to think.

Steve Soloman Toronto

Thank you Doug Ford, for making voting in the next Ontario election much easier. I do not find any of the parties appealing. Mr. Ford’s decision to use the notwithstanding clause is an outrageous “hand grenade for houseflies” solution and confirms my suspicion that he is only hiding his erratic and bullying nature during the hard times of COVID-19. His poor handling of the pandemic and environmental issues left him an unlikely choice in my books. Refusing to accept the decision of the courts, however, makes it clear: Doug Ford is not fit to be Premier. Let’s hope someone else proves they are deserving of the position.

Robert McManus Dundas, Ont.

Notwithstanding the pivot Premier Doug Ford is making from dithering consensus-seeker to hammer-fisted autocrat, it is still obvious that he is completely unfit for leadership.

His use of the notwithstanding clause is outrageous and completely unacceptable. It is also clearly the decision of a man – and perhaps a party – that sees how slim the chances are of re-election without Republican-style interference in the political process, in this case of the population’s right to speak out.

Leslie Starkman Toronto

I participated in the debates on the repatriation of the Constitution and the creation of the Charter. All the leaders federal and provincial intended the freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression provision to be for citizens – people, not corporations or unions or associations. “Freedom of the press and other media of communication” was for media institutions, not oil or tobacco companies or unions. The Supreme Court ruling giving tobacco companies civil rights vindicated those who opposed the Charter because too much political power was handed to judges.

I’ve never supported Ontario Premier Doug Ford in any of his terrible public policies or his rough-riding over the legislature, but in this case, he’s justified in invoking the notwithstanding clause in support of a citizen-dominated electoral process and not the moneyed special interests.

Don Scott Victoria

(former MLA Inkster, Man.)