TORONTO — As Ontario’s legislature prepared to hold a rare midnight sitting to debate a bill that would cut the size of Toronto city council, members of Canada’s legal community called on the government not to overrule a court decision striking down an earlier version of the legislation. On Sunday afternoon, an open letter signed by about 400 Ontario legal professionals was sent to Attorney General Caroline Mulroney asking that she not support the use of the Constitution’s notwithstanding clause. The clause was invoked by Bill 31, dubbed the Efficient Local Government Act, which reintroduces legislation that was struck down by an Ontario Superior Court judge. The judge ruled that the initial bill violated the charter rights of candidates and voters in Toronto’s upcoming election. “I think it’s really dangerous to use the notwithstanding clause,” said Hutcheson.

Source: National Post September 16, 2018 21:45 UTC