OTTAWA, June 22, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In a veiled endorsement of the Liberal Party, Justice Frank Iacobucci has warned Canadians of the dangers of allowing elected Parliamentarians to have the power to make or overturn laws created by the courts.
Iacobucci, who is retiring next week, said that clause 33 of the Charter was of “questionable” legitimacy. He hinted that the ‘rights’ that had already been imposed by judicial fiat under the Charter, were only the beginning of a more complete social renovation in Canada. He is quoted in the Edmonton Journal, saying, “The planks that we’ve made ... are very important beginnings. I think we’ve evolved greatly and will we evolve more to other minorities.” Gwen Landolt of REAL Women of Canada told LifeSiteNews.com that she is not surprised Iacobucci is defending the power of the courts. Landolt said that Iacobucci is one of the most liberal judges on the Court and the Charter has given him free reign to re-make Canada in his image.
Landolt said, “The notwithstanding clause is a failsafe to prevent exactly this kind of abuse of power by the courts. It is no wonder Iacobucci, with his patronage appointment to the bench, wants to question its legitimacy. They don’t want anyone to use it because it would halt the whole social re-engineering agenda that has been in place since the Charter was established. The wording of the Charter is vague and it is this that has given Iacobucci such great power in interpreting it.” The Supreme Court will begin hearing arguments on same-sex “marriage” in the fall and two of the most stridently liberal justices have retired. Stephen Harper could be in a position to fill those vacancies in time for the debate. Harper has said that he is not against the use of the notwithstanding clause to protect the definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman.
Landolt continued, saying that the notwithstanding clause is the only safeguard the champions of the traditional family have. “It is a perfectly legitimate clause,” she said. “Iacobucci is a prime example of why we need a notwithstanding clause. Who is this man who thinks his patronage appointment makes him superhuman and that his god-like decisions must never be overturned, least of all by mere democratically elected officials? Why should an elite of appointed judges be lording over the legislature? All the notwithstanding clause does is cut into their power.” In reference to the Liberal accusations against Harper’s alleged “hidden agenda” Landolt said, “The real hidden agenda has been in place since the establishment of the Charter.” Edmonton Journal interview: http://www.canada.com/edmonton/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=937d4cd2-1cb1-4fad-9b88-26433f0c1b75