Opinion: What the rule of law is, and why it matters — for everyone

Hostility to the rule of law is in intellectual fashion. There is an abundant supply of polite opinion to the effect that, while it may be referenced in the preamble to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the rule of law is nothing more than slogan for right-wingers, or worse.

Legal constraints and procedures slow us down when they do not altogether prevent us from doing as we wish Yet despite this, the rule of law is immensely valuable because it is the only way we have to contain the tendency of those wielding power, be it public or private, to act without regard to the rights and interests of ordinary people. The rule of law does not eliminate coercion or power imbalances, but it replaces one-sided domination with relationships that involve rights and obligations on both sides.

But, even in such cases, the rule of law cannot be a one-way street. It requires the government to act within the bounds of constraints imposed on it, and to open its decisions to legal challenge, but it also requires those challenging government decisions to accept the outcomes of an impartial review process.

Does the ' Rule of Law ' actually apply to ALL Canadians Of course not ...it only applies to those who pay taxes and who want to work for a living, with exception of the wealthy of course!!

acoyne Good article, but a bit heavy.

Something tells me this is part of the liberal strategy since they keep hiring high ranking environmentalists. When trudeau says he's doing something to fix it he may mean that by doing nothing he will get what they want, it's just not what the rest of us want.

acoyne Ladies and gentlemen: the newspaper that proudly publishes Conrad Black

Tell that to JustinTrudeau when he talks about jguaido and Venezuela 🇻🇪

What is it about colonials that they seem 2 have so much difficulty with the obvious? The issue isn't the 'rule of law' as a general principle. The issue is conflicting legal systems & sovereignties. Even the SCC gets that reconciliation is about reconciling sovereignties!🤔

It clear open tracks and lock them up.

Trudeau will meet with terrorist leaders of other countries and kiss their a$$ but he won't meet with Canada's elected leader of the Opposition. Pathetic.

Trudeau have weak spot for indigenous. But you are the PM for all the people of Canada 🇨🇦. If this is effecting the economy . Then it time for this government to resolve it . For if was not indigenous . This would have been resolve by the government long time ago. You think 🤔

Shut up

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