Books, Big Ideas, Q&As

Q&A | The legal battle over the ‘notwithstanding’ clause, explained

'The scope of Sec. 33 must be understood keeping in mind the unwritten constitutional principle of respect for or protection of minorities,' argues University of Ottawa law professor Natasha Bakht.

The federal government, through Justice Minister Sean Fraser, has asked the Supreme Court to impose some limits on how the notwithstanding clause can be used, but has not taken a position on whether Quebec’s Bill 21 violates the Charter.The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Feature

BY PETER MAZEREEUW

September 29, 2025

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