An appeal hearing stemming from a court challenge of the Government of Saskatchewan’s Parents’ Bill of Rights has come to a close. The provincial government is in Saskatchewan’s highest court fighting to prevent a Court of King’s Bench judge from determining if the law actually violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Lawyers representing UR Pride and supporting interveners finalized their arguments Tuesday in defense of the decision to allow their challenge to continue.
UR Pride, and its supporters, believe the court does have the ability to hear and make a decision regarding the law. “The government is not empowered to silence the judiciary on a question of the constitutional rights,” Adam Goldenberg argued. “And make its voice the only voice in determining what is ultimately the voters’ decision whether this law should operate.
” In total, nine interveners support a decision to continue the challenge, ranging in organization from the Canadian Civil Liberties Association to the John Howard Society. All nine organizations spoke at the hearing Tuesday. “Section 33 [of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms] does not exempt the legislature from the application of the Charter provisions or the rights those provisions guarantee,” Goldenberg said.
“[It] only exempts the legislature from the ordinary function which would otherwise render the legislation inoperable.” “Sometimes Charter rights overlap,” said Justice Neal Caldwell. “And when we look at .
