Does Constitution still serve us?

WJW

Nominee Member
Jul 6, 2012
56
0
6
"When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean —— neither more nor less."
"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."
"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master—— that's all."
- Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass (1871)

Perceptions are egocentric, and often wrong. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion; but as to the Constitution, it is the opinion of the Supreme Court that counts. To say that the Constitution means what it says, is merely to beg the question of its interpretation, which is not for you or I to say. "Which is to be master . . ." ? The Supreme Court has the final word; indeed, one can say with confidence that the Constitution says what the Supreme Court says it says.
 

Cabbagesandking

Council Member
Apr 24, 2012
1,041
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Ontario
"When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean —— neither more nor less."
"The question is," said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."
"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty, "which is to be master—— that's all."
- Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass (1871)

Perceptions are egocentric, and often wrong. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion; but as to the Constitution, it is the opinion of the Supreme Court that counts. To say that the Constitution means what it says, is merely to beg the question of its interpretation, which is not for you or I to say. "Which is to be master . . ." ? The Supreme Court has the final word; indeed, one can say with confidence that the Constitution says what the Supreme Court says it says.

Nice (can't think of the word)

However, with the Canadian it is not that simple. Following Confederation, the Supreme Court routinely found against Provincial legislation since the intent of the Constitution was to create a strong central government and weak Provincial jurisdictions (Municipalities writ large, as MacDonald said).

The Manitoba boundaries decision I referred to - I think it was that one - changed everything as the Lords of the Privy Council overruled the Canadian Supreme Court and continued to doso turning Canada into a weak amalgamation of powerful Provinces.

The Canadian Supreme Court has continued along that destructive path.