CCLA to Defend Democratic Rights Before the Supreme Court of Canada in Working Families Case

The Supreme Court of Canada just granted CCLA leave to intervene in the Attorney general of Ontario v. Working Families Coalition case. This matter is a constitutional challenge of the Ontario government’s third-party election spending rules. On March 6, 2023, the Ontario Court of Appeal found that these rules violate citizens’ democratic rights in a way that is not demonstrably justifiable in a free and democratic society, rendering the government’s use of the notwithstanding clause pointless. CCLA’s submissions as intervener before the SCC will focus on the need for a broad and purposive interpretation of section 3 of the Charter (democratic rights) and will invite courts considering this section to be particularly attuned to whether the impugned law insulates incumbents from electoral accountability.

The CCLA is grateful to be represented pro bono in this matter by David Rankin, Lindsay Rauccio and Graham Buitenhuis of Osler, Hoskin and Harcourt LLP.