POL214Y5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Equal Protection Clause
Document Summary
Supreme court interprets laws and decides if laws are consistent with the charter. Elected representatives are in charge with upholding the values of the charter. > they also have to consider public opinion, there is an accountability measure to vote them out if they do not do any of these things. Supreme court judges are appointed so they don"t need to be worried about re-election. > they can focus on long term decisions. Pre-charter era: not many rights were upheld (especially for minorities), rights were abused (internment camps. Ww2), aboriginal rights abused: legislatures were faulty at upholding the protection of rights, bill of rights. Introduced by diemen baker, as a means to compensate the masses who wanted rights protection: this only applied to federal governments. Courts have struck down on contradicting laws, both federal and provincial: judges have the authority to interpret and act upon it.
