A federal court will hear an expedited challenge to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s parliamentary shutdown next month, marking a legal test of the government’s legislative pause.
Federal Court Chief Justice Paul Crampton set a February 13-14 hearing date in Ottawa, bypassing usual procedural delays to examine the constitutionality of Trudeau’s move to suspend Parliament until late March.
Two Nova Scotia citizens filed the challenge days after Trudeau announced both his plan to step down as prime minister and his request to Governor General Mary Simon to prorogue Parliament through March 24.
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The plaintiffs, David MacKinnon and Aris Lavranos, contend the suspension improperly blocks Parliament from responding to pressing national issues, including potential U.S. trade tariffs. Their legal filing suggests Trudeau’s move aimed to prevent opposition parties from launching a no-confidence vote against his Liberal government.
“An eleven-week shutdown of our federal government’s legislative branch by the executive branch, without lawful authority, represents a grave threat to democracy, our Parliamentary system and the rule of law itself,” the plaintiffs argued in court documents seeking the expedited hearing.
Government lawyers opposed the accelerated timeline, stating that “the government will continue to function, including through the executive’s conduct of foreign relations and economic and trade policy, during the brief time period Parliament is prorogued.”
Crampton ruled the case’s urgency and public importance outweighed concerns about the compressed schedule. His decision ensures the court will address the constitutional challenge before Parliament’s scheduled reopening.
The ruling cited several factors favoring expedition, including the urgency of the matter and the public interest in determining these serious issues promptly.
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