OTTAWA – Prime Minister Mark Carney held a press conference today to announce a renaming of the “Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms”, the document that enshrined our foundational set of rights in national law, to the more accurate “Canadian Charter of Optional Ideas”.
Said Carney, “What was once called ‘the most fundamental law of the land’ turns out to be just a set of so-so ideas that provinces may or may not follow as they see fit. The terms ‘Rights’ and ‘Freedoms’ seem overly harsh and make these principles seem required when, in fact, they can be totally ignored at the slightest inconvenience.”
Most recently, Alberta has threatened to use the Notwithstanding Clause to circumvent the Charter for newly proposed laws attacking transgender rights. The clause is often used by provinces to exempt themselves from having to follow the heavy burden of their citizens’ liberties.
Abby Gloopwaffel, a law professor at the University of Alberta, said, “Invoking in the Notwithstanding Clause to pass a law is often what happens when rolling around on the ground and crying doesn’t work. So the renaming of the Charter brings our legislative procedures in line with how it is currently practised in this great nation of laws and suggestions.”
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, supported by Premier Doug Ford of Ontario and Premier François Legault of Quebec, commented on today’s announcement. “‘The Canadian Charter of Optional Ideas’ is a welcome and innovative approach to a legal system in that the citizens and governments bound by it can now pick and choose how to follow it. And isn’t that the ultimate freedom for us all?”
“Well, most of us,” added Smith.
