1/ The Ford gov't was supposed to return to the legislature this week if it wanted to continue the 2nd "state of emergency", which the cabinet could only keep in place for 28 days (now finished).
Our elected legislature would have had a chance to debate, consider & vote.
Our elected legislature would have had a chance to debate, consider & vote.
2/ Instead, just like they did in July with the "Reopening Ontario Act" (doublespeak much?), the gov't is managing to avoid the legislature (although it did pass the Act), keep the emergency orders in effect & continue to concentrate power in the cabinet (particularly, the CMOH).
3/ This is bad for democracy, for the constitution & for civil liberties. Other Western democracies are facing similar threats, with little concern for the preservation of important norms that undergird or way of life in a free society. Good article below about the UK experience.
4/ "It is essential that we don’t enter a semi-permanent state of emergency laws and basic rights switched on and off by the government at will and without democratic scrutiny. Lockdowns may have been necessary, but we cannot be locked down forever."
unherd.com/2021/02/the-da…
unherd.com/2021/02/the-da…
5/ Today, @JCCFCanada is in court in Manitoba, arguing one piece of this -- the delegation of broad powers into the hands of a single, unelected official -- the provincial health officer.
https://twitter.com/JCCFCanada/status/1359155094978256898?s=20
6/ Related piece about the US and the extensive use of executive powers: nypost.com/2021/02/08/min…
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