Several environmental groups have launched a constitutional challenge seeking to kill an Ontario law that allows cabinet to suspend other laws.

Wildlands League, Environmental Defence Canada, Friends of the Earth Canada and Democracy Watch allege Ontario’s special economic zone law wrongly abdicates power from the legislature and gives it to cabinet, thereby violating the Constitution.

Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government passed Bill 5, which included the special economic zone provision, last year.

The provision allows cabinet and the environment minister to suspend any and all provincial and municipal laws within such zones as they see fit.

  • sbv@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    1·
    6 days ago

    Can you explain more about the temporary part?

    Quebec’s language French-only/prominent language laws were enacted in the 90s. I believe they used the notwithstanding clause to prevent charter challenges. As far as I understand, those laws are still in effect twenty-ish years later. How does that work?

    • No_Maines_Land@lemmy.ca
      2·
      6 days ago

      A declaration made under subsection (1) shall cease to have effect five years after it comes into force or on such earlier date as may be specified in the declaration.

      These have been renewed in cases, but generally laws end up evolving into compliance over time.