ford-toronto_thumb
ford-toronto_thumb This article is more than 5 years old
News

Amnesty International Condemns Doug Ford for Undermining Democratic Elections in Toronto

Doug Ford is two-and-a-half months into his job as Premier of Ontario

Amnesty International is condemning Doug Ford’s government for overriding the Constitution to ram through unconstitutional legislation aimed at rigging Toronto’s municipal elections.

The international advocacy group, which promotes democracy and human rights around the world, is typically known for its work in countries ravaged by war or run by tinpot dictators.

But Amnesty International is turning its attention to Ontario after Ford invoked the notwithstanding clause to overturn an Ontario Superior Court ruling this week – the court ruled Ford’s law gerrymandering Toronto’s political boundaries in the middle of an election both undemocratic and unconstitutional.

“No government in Canada should take the contemptuous step of disregard for the Charter of Rights that the notwithstanding clause offers them,” Amnesty International Canada’s Secretary General Alex Neve said in a statement.

Amnesty International noted the court decision Ford is trying to overturn ruled his government violated the Charter rights of “both voters and candidates” when it intervened to redraw Toronto’s political boundaries “after the municipal election campaign had begun.”

Neve added that using the notwithstanding clause in a situation where “core principles around elections and the underpinnings of our democracy are at stake is particularly disgraceful.”

This week, Ford said he is ready to use the notwithstanding clause whenever courts strike down his laws as unconstitutional, claiming the courts have no authority over the Government of Ontario.

Amnesty International said it is concerned about the notwithstanding clause being used as a “human rights escape clause,” undermining the rule of law by “allowing governments to violate Charter rights without judicial scrutiny or oversight.”

Although much of his PC caucus has remained quiet, Ford was slammed by the old leader of his own party on Wednesday. Ontario’s former Progressive Conservative Premier Bill Davis said that the notwithstanding clause was never intended to be used the way Ford is currently trying to use it.

Queen’s Park erupted in fireworks Wednesday afternoon after security guards began clearing the public galleries as Ford’s government rammed through a new round of unconstitutional legislation aimed at rigging Toronto’s municipal election.

Opposition NDP leader Andrea Horwath called Ford’s move an “abuse of power.”

“The judiciary has a critical role to play in a democracy,” Horwath said. “So does the media. And so do the voices of everyday people – this is their legislature and their province.”

“Doug Ford has attacked the courts. He attacked democracy. And now, he’s attacking any Ontario person who dares to disagree with him.”

Horwath, as well as the rest of her NDP caucus, were also ejected from Queen’s Park by the Sergeant-at-Arms after banging their desks and yelling “no!”

 

Our journalism is powered by readers like you.

We’re an award-winning non-profit news organization that covers topics like social and economic inequality, big business and labour, and right-wing extremism.

Help us build so we can bring to light stories that don’t get the attention they deserve from Canada’s big corporate media outlets.

 

Donate
PressProgress
PressProgress is an award-winning non-profit news organization focused on uncovering and unpacking the news through original investigative and explanatory journalism.

Most Shared

thumb-sources Podcast

Take Back Alberta Leaders are Training ‘Scrutineers’ to Infiltrate Campaigns and Act as ‘Security’ on Voting Day

Related Stories

NEWS

City councillor says regulatory framework needed for psychedelics in Vancouver

View the post
News

RCMP Confirms Hundreds On UCP Voter List Told Police They Had ‘No Knowledge’ They Ever Voted

View the post
NEWS

Court Will Decide If Crackdown on ‘Compassion Clubs’ to Save Lives During Overdose Crisis Was Reasonable

View the post
Our free email newsletter delivers award-winning journalism directly to your inbox.
Get Canadian Investigative News You Won't Find in Corporate Newspapers.
Our free email newsletter delivers award-winning journalism to your inbox.
Get Canadian Investigative News You Won't Find in Corporate Newspapers.