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In a bid to slow Canada’s crime epidemic and keep violent offenders off the streets, a Conservative government promises to invoke constitutional powers to reverse Liberal catch-and-release crime policies.
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Speaking Monday morning at a press conference in Montreal, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre reacted to criticism that his tough-on-crime platform is unconstitutional by saying he intends to use Section 33 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms — better known as the “notwithstanding clause” — to keep violent, repeat offenders off city streets.
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“The question is do I respect Supreme Court decisions, and the answer is yes,” Poilievre said, referencing a question asked by a reporter in French.
“I also respect the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which guarantees life, liberty and the security of the person to every single Canadian.”
That right, Poilievre says, has been trampled — thanks to the past decade of Liberal light-on-crime policy.
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“I will use Section 33 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms to put an end to the Liberal crime and drug wave, and to protect law-abiding Canadians against the dangers that are spreading everywhere on our streets.”
Poilievre’s tough-on-crime platform garnered criticism, largely from Supreme Court precedent striking down Harper-era crime legislation was unconstitutional — leading to a 2022 Trudeau Liberal bill removing mandatory minimum sentences for drug and firearm offences.
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