{"id":34456,"date":"2026-02-24T11:48:01","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T18:48:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/runnymedesociety.ca\/?post_type=runnymede-events&p=34456"},"modified":"2026-03-03T14:44:48","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T21:44:48","slug":"testing-the-notwithstanding-clause-the-constitutional-battle-over-quebecs-bill-21","status":"publish","type":"runnymede-events","link":"https:\/\/runnymedesociety.ca\/en\/runnymede-events\/testing-the-notwithstanding-clause-the-constitutional-battle-over-quebecs-bill-21\/","title":{"rendered":"Testing the Notwithstanding Clause? The Constitutional Battle Over Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s Bill 21"},"content":{"rendered":"

Please join the Runnymede Society\u2019s Western University Chapter, in partnership with the Christian Legal Fellowship (CLF), the Jewish Law Students Association, the Muslim Law Students’ Association, and the Sikh Students Association, for an expert panel discussion on the constitutional challenges surrounding Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s Act Respecting the Laicity of the State (Bill 21) on Monday, March 9th.<\/span><\/p>\n

As litigation over religious symbols in the public sector continues, this panel will move beyond political headlines to examine the constitutional mechanisms at the centre of Bill 21. Speakers will explore the scope and limits of the notwithstanding clause (section 33), the argument that gender equality (section 28) cannot be overridden, and the federalism questions raised by the division of powers implicated by the legislation.<\/span><\/p>\n

The panel features Prof. Ryan Alford (Lakehead) on the use and implications of section 33, Prof. Kerri Froc (UNB) on the interaction between sections 28 and 33, and Derek Ross (CLF) on federalism and jurisdictional validity. The discussion will be moderated by Prof. Rory Gillis (Western).<\/span><\/p>\n

All students, faculty, staff, and community members are welcome to attend.<\/span><\/p>\n