Democratic Reform Week, 1/3

Since the beginning of 2025, I've been honoured to be part of the Shadow Cabinet for the Green Party of Canada. The governing party has a cabinet, and each opposition party has a similar group of people ready to respond. On Shadow Cabinet, I am the Critic for Democratic Reform.

To give a sense of where my priorities are, here are six areas where we ought to focus so that our democracy regains and maintains health. I'll expand on two today, and follow up later this week with the others.

1. The Notwithstanding Clause

2. Voting Age

3. Technology (coming on Wednesday)

4. Electoral & Ballot Reform (coming on Wednesday)

5. Foreign Interference (coming on Friday)

6. Our Media (coming on Friday)

The Notwithstanding Clause. Section 33 of the Canadian Constitution gives a provincial government the power to ignore some other sections of the constitution. I firmly opposes the pre-emptive use of the notwithstanding clause. This mechanism, intended to used rarely to uphold provincial sovereignty, has increasingly been misused to override fundamental rights before any judicial challenge has occurred. If elected, I will propose legislative measures to limit the pre-emptive application of this clause, ensuring it remains a tool of last resort rather than a first step. Specifically, I will vote against any legislation that makes pre-emptive use of the NWS clause (notwithstanding which party proposed it), and I will support the Senate of Canada in taking similar measures.

I'm specific about pre-emptive use of the clause here. I believe that should a province follow its avenues of appeal through the courts and a piece of legislation is found to be unconstitutional, then a public conversation about the use of the clause would be appropriate. The pre-emptive use of the clause cynically avoids any such public debate.

Voting Age To foster greater youth engagement and representation in our democracy, I support lowering the voting age in federal elections to 16. Young Canadians are deeply affected by policy decisions, especially those related to the climate crisis, education, and economic opportunity. Giving them the right to vote empowers them to participate meaningfully in shaping their future and strengthens our democracy by encouraging early and sustained civic involvement. By voting (for the first time) in the community that they grew up in, Young Canadians will better understand the impact and importance of voting. Bill C-201, one of the many pieces of legislation lost to the 2025 prorogation, would have enacted this and I will advocate for its re-introduction in the next parliament.

See you soon for part 2!