US EditionFord denounces federal position on notwithstanding clause in swipe at Carney, Fraser
Ford and other premiers oppose federal limits on the notwithstanding clause, which Ontario says is vital for democracy and allows lawmaking despite Charter conflicts.
- On September 25, 2025, in Vaughan, Ontario, Premier Doug Ford criticized the federal Liberals, singling out Justice Minister Sean Fraser and Prime Minister Mark Carney.
- Ford's remarks responded to Ottawa's recent suggestion to limit legislatures' ability to invoke the Constitution's notwithstanding clause, a move Ontario opposes.
- Ontario's submission to the Supreme Court emphasized the notwithstanding clause as essential to Canada's democracy, allowing elected bodies to override certain Charter rights temporarily.
- Ford called Carney's decision 'the worst decision' and said it 'will be an absolute disaster,' stressing that legislatures are supreme, not politically appointed judges.
- Ford urged Fraser to focus on criminal justice reform instead of constitutional issues, reflecting ongoing provincial-federal tensions over judicial authority and constitutional interpretation.
27 Articles
27 Articles
Prince George Citizen
Ford denounces federal position on notwithstanding clause in swipe at Carney, Fraser
OTTAWA — Ontario Premier Doug Ford took pointed aim at the federal Liberals on Thursday over Ottawa's recent suggestion of limits on the ability of legislatures to invoke the Constitution's notwithstanding clause.
Ontario Premier Ford Says Ottawa’s Challenge of Notwithstanding Clause Amounts to ‘Overreach’
Ontario Premier Doug Ford criticized the federal government for filing a motion with the Supreme Court around limiting the use of the notwithstanding clause, calling it a “disaster” and saying it will likely be blocked by the provinces. “This is the worst decision Prime Minister [Mark] Carney has ever done, and it will be an absolute disaster, and I don’t believe it’s going to go through. It just takes Quebec and Ontario to block it,” Ford said …
Doug Ford slams Mark Carney over request to review notwithstanding clause usage, calling it the ‘worst decision’ the PM has ever made
Ontario Premier Doug Ford took aim at the federal government and judicial “overreach” Thursday over a move to have the Supreme Court of Canada weigh in on provincial overuse of the notwithstanding clause.
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