Unions reportedly plan to challenge Ford in court as opposition parties promise no support

By News Staff

Premier Doug Ford is coming under fire from both unions and opposition parties after his government passed a bill limiting third-party election advertising by employing a rarely used legislative power.

Unions are angry over his use of the notwithstanding clause in the lead-up to next year’s election, and opposition parties are vowing not to prop up the Progressive Conservatives in a potential minority government scenario.

Ford is reportedly being taken to court again over the law he pushed through with the notwithstanding clause.

The Toronto Star reports a coalition of unions is arguing Ford’s controversial new campaign finance law violates their constitutional rights.

Ford invoked the notwithstanding clause last week to overturn a judge’s ruling that his legislation, limiting election spending by third-party groups, was unconstitutional.

A lawyer for the Working Families coalition tells the Star they are now arguing the government has overstepped its authority.


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Bill 307 used the notwithstanding clause to reintroduce parts of a law struck down by a judge last week.
The clause allows legislatures to override portions of the charter for a five-year term.

A judge found it was unconstitutional for the government to double the restricted pre-election spending period for third-party advertisements to 12 months before an election call.

The Progressive Conservative government argued the extended restriction was necessary to protect elections from outside influence.

The bill passed last week after a marathon weekend debate in which opposition politicians argued the government was trying to silence criticism ahead of next June’s provincial election.

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