Wednesday 11 April 2007

Override charter, Canadians argue

This article reports that 68 percent of Canadians support the Federal Government retaining the ability to use the "notwithstanding clause" in the Canadian Constitution as an override of the Constitution under certain exceptional circumstances.

This is an interesting development considering we are hearing some of those in the business crowd (and certain right-wing politicians) saying that governments shouldn't even have the right to legislate and regulate in the public interest. (i.e. TILMA).

What is democracy anyway? Is it handing off the citizens' and their elected representatives right and legal responsibility to govern - to the arbitrary decisions of a hand-picked trade tribunal?

That's not my vision of democracy.

The BC/Alberta Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) is a Massive Assault on Democracy. It was signed in secret, in the backrooms, between Gordon Campbell and Ralph Klein, without public consultation or knowledge. It is short-shighted, irresponsible, and unacceptable.

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