THE NOTWITHSTANDING TABOO

Abstract

The existence of the notwithstanding clause in s.33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms allows the federal and provincial governments to overrule the fundamental freedoms and legal and equality rights of Canadian citizens. Built into the override is a sunset clause, requiring governments to renew any legislation using s.33 every five years. The government is also required to state explicitly which Charter rights are being overridden, though in the limited extent to which the override has been used, the invocation of s.33 has always been vague and proclaims to operate notwithstanding all of the relevant sections of the Charter to which the override applies, sections 2 (fundamental freedoms) and 7 to 15 (legal and equality rights).