Virani says Poilievre’s willingness to use notwithstanding clause threatens rights
-
Share on Facebook
-
Share on Twitter
- Copy Link
OTTAWA — Canada’s justice minister says the notwithstanding clause should only be used as a measure of last resort after Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre suggested he wouldn’t hesitate to wield it to enact tougher criminal laws.
Poilievre told the Canadian Police Association in a speech on Monday that he would enact stiffer penalties for convicted criminals and those charged with crimes who have a record of violence.
He says a future Conservative government would do away with house arrest for serious offences and change the law to ensure murderers with multiple victims have to serve their entire sentence in maximum security.
Poilievre told the crowd he would make sure his proposals are constitutional “using whatever tools the constitution allows me to use to make them constitutional.”
