| Parliament is prorogued in a moment of profound crisis We remain threatened by an unprecedented trade war with the United States that could have a devastating impact on our economy and sovereignty. Meanwhile, Parliament is completely shut down and unable to meaningfully respond. On January 6, Prime Minister Trudeau announced the decision to advise the Governor General to prorogue Parliament, leaving Canada rudderless in a moment of profound crisis. Parliament is the place where elected representatives debate and legislate to address the nation’s pressing issues and where they exercise the tools to hold the government to account. On January 7, lawyers funded by the Justice Centre launched a constitutional challenge to set aside Prime Minister Trudeau’s decision and to secure a declaration that Parliament has not been legally prorogued. We also launched a Petition to Re-Open Parliament Immediately on January 8. Within hours, thousands of Canadians had signed it. To date, over 50,000 Canadians have signed it. On January 18, 2025, Chief Justice Paul S. Crampton of the Federal Court recognized the urgent, exceptional and compelling issues raised by this prorogation challenge and granted an expedited hearing. In his ruling he wrote, “If the underlying Application is not scheduled to be heard on an expedited basis, there will be no opportunity for Canada’s elected representatives to debate this serious threat [of 25 percent tariffs] and take any action that they may consider appropriate for over two months following President-elect Trump’s assumption of office.” Since then, lawyers for the Applicants have worked tirelessly to prepare their evidence and arguments against the decision to shut down Parliament. They filed their Factum in Federal Court on February 3. What happens next On February 12, I will deliver more than 50,000 petition signatures to the Office of the Prime Minister on Wellington Street in Ottawa. If you haven’t signed our petition and wonder, “What do petitions accomplish anyway?” I answer your questions here.  |
On February 13 and 14, lawyers funded by the Justice Centre will argue against the decision to prorogue Parliament in Ottawa at the Supreme Court of Canada building. Our communications team will report on the hearing from the courtroom. What happens in that courtroom will be historic. The Applicants’ lawyers will urge the Federal Court to accept and adopt a non-binding precedent from the United Kingdom Supreme Court, which found Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision to prorogue Parliament in 2019 to be unjustified and unlawful. |
| What you can do today The word “democracy” means “the force of the common people.” Democracies crumble when ordinary Canadians like you and I sit on the sidelines. I hope you will support our court challenge in whatever way you can. Sign and share our petition to Re-Open Parliament Immediately Each additional signature shows MPs of all parties that Canadians object to Parliament being shut down, especially at this crucial time. The Prime Minister could recall Parliament at any time. Petition signatures give him another reason to do so. If you have already signed this petition, I thank you for actively participating in your democracy. Please consider sharing our petition on social media. |
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