AN OPEN LETTER FROM Camrose Lawyers … OUR CONCERNS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: 1 Our Government legislated rules about citizen petitions and direct democracy, and retroactively changed these rules when they were not working in the Government's favour, in an apparent attempt to stifle opposition. 1 Our Government has taken away the powers of the Chief Electoral Officer, who was an independent officer of the legislature, and placed those powers in the hands of the Justice Minister. This has taken away an important and independent check on Government actions and over-reach. 1 Our Government has invoked the notwithstanding clause of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms four times in the last three months of 2025. Yet, our Premier publicly stated in 2022 that she was opposed to using the notwithstanding clause as it is used to override individual rights and freedoms. Now she justifies repeated use of the notwithstanding clause to override individual rights and freedoms on the apparent basis that our judges are not elected, and therefore not as accountable as the Legislature. 1 Our Government has taken away the powers of the Law Society of Alberta to sanction the Justice Minister for wrongdoing. Our Justice Minister is a lawyer. He is expected to set a good example for all lawyers, and display the highest degree of integrity. If our fustice Minister breaches our Code of Conduct, he or she should expect to answer for that breach. 1 Our Premier has, on recent occasions, criticized our Courts and suggested federally appointed Judges are not able to render impartial decisions. We have strong, respected Courts with a reputation for principled decision making. We should all value and safeguard judicial independence. Our Courts are necessary to protect and uphold our legal rights and uphold the rule of law in Alberta and Canada. Even if they may disagree with a particular decision, politicians should treat our Courts with respect, and not exert polltical pressure on them or try to und…
'Our Government has invoked the notwithstanding clause of the Charter of Rights & Freedoms four times in the last three months of 2025. Yet, our Premier publicly stated in 2022 that she was opposed to using the NWC as it is used to override individual rights & freedoms.'
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