The Chinese Canadian National Council for Social Justice (CCNC-SJ) is pleased to announce that, together with the Chinese and Southeast Asian Legal Clinic (CSALC) and a number of other groups, it has been granted leave to intervene in the Supreme Court of Canada case of English Montreal School Board v. Attorney General of Quebec.
CCNC-SJ is proud to contribute to this important dialogue by bringing forward the perspectives of Asian Canadian communities. These are communities that have suffered under laws like the Chinese Immigration Act (which imposed the Head Tax and also exclusion), and that have too often been left out of conversations on the democratic limits of legislative power, despite being the most vulnerable groups to their exercise. We look forward to making submissions that reflect our community’s lived experiences and the constitutional interests of all racialized communities.
This case raises the critical issue of the scope and interpretation of section 33 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, commonly known as the “notwithstanding clause”.
Interpreted without meaningful limits, section 33 can be used to shield legislation that undermines the fundamental rights of marginalized communities from judicial scrutiny and Charter protection. Indeed, this interpretation has been relied upon by the Quebec legislature to prohibit certain public workers in positions of authority from wearing religious symbols while performing their duties, effectively creating barriers that disproportionately affect religious and racialized communities.
In CCNC-SJ and CSALC’s submissions, we will highlight the importance of interpreting section 33 in light of section 27 of the Charter, which mandates that the Charter be interpreted in a manner consistent with the preservation and enhancement of Canada’s multicultural heritage.
“As governments across Canada have increasingly invoked or contemplated invoking the use of the ‘notwithstanding clause’, it is more important than ever that we have clarity on the limits and proper application of section 33” said Ryan Chan, Co-Counsel and Board Director of CCNC-SJ. “We look forward to the opportunity to ensure that the voices of Asian Canadians and other racialized communities will be heard, and to assist the Supreme Court of Canada in reaching its decision.”
“The preservation and enhancement of Canada’s multicultural heritage is a right enshrined in our Charter, deserving respect even amidst the increasing use of the ‘notwithstanding clause’ by governments. It is essential for the Supreme Court of Canada to clarify the boundaries and implications of section 33, ensuring that such a powerful tool does not violate our Charter’s protections. Section 27, which safeguards Canada’s multicultural heritage, should serve as a defining boundary. In advocating for a just resolution, we aim to ensure that the voices of Chinese and Southeast Asians in Canada are heard and recognized” said Christine Dang, Co-Counsel and Executive Director of CSALC.
CCNC-SJ and CSALC are thankful to be represented by Raj Anand, a leading human rights lawyer in Canada together with Ryan Chan, Christine Dang, and Simon Kuan.
全加華人社會公義平權會與華越柬寮法律援助中心獲准介入關於 “儘管條款” 使用與魁北克 C‑21 法案之里程碑式權利法案
全加華人社會公義平權會（Chinese Canadian National Council for Social Justice)(CCNC‑SJ）欣然宣佈，與華越柬寮法律援助中心（CSALC）等團體一同，已獲准在加拿大最高法院審理的 English Montreal School Board vs. Attorney General of Quebec 一案中作為第三方介入者。
CCNC‑SJ 樂於從亞裔加拿大人社群的視角參與此重要對話。歷史上，亞裔社群曾深受《華人移民法》（包括華人入境稅與排斥措施）的影響，卻長久以來在就立法權力之民主限制之討論中被忽略，而他們往往也是受這些權力影響最深者。我們期待提出反映本社群實際經驗以及所有有色人種社區憲法利益的陳述。
此案所涉及的核心議題在於《加拿大權利與自由憲章》第 33 條（通常稱為「儘管條款」）的範圍與解釋。
若未加以有意義的限制，第 33 條可能被用來保護破壞弱勢群體基本權利的立法，使其免於司法審查與憲章保障。實際上，魁北克省議會已以此條款為依據，禁止某些具權威性公共職位的工作者佩戴宗教符號，形成對宗教及有色社區的不成比例障礙。
在 CCNC‑SJ 與 CSALC 的陳述中，我們將強調依據憲章第 27 條的要求解釋第 33 條，以維護憲章在尊重與促進加拿大多元文化傳統上的功能。
CCNC‑SJ 董事及共同律師陳緯安 (Ryan Chan) 表示：「隨著加拿大各級政府越來越多考慮或實際動用儘管條款，現在比以往任何時候都更需要釐清第 33 條的限制與適用範圍。我們期待確保亞裔加拿大人和其他有色社區的聲音被聆聽，協助最高法院作出審慎判決。」
CSALC 執行董事兼共同律師 Christine Dang 表示：「加拿大多元文化遺產的保存與發揚是一項載入《憲章》的權利，即使在各級政府日益頻繁使用「儘管條款」（第33條）的情況下，也應受到尊重。加拿大最高法院有必要釐清第33條的適用界限與法律影響，確保這一強而有力的工具不會侵犯《憲章》所保障的權利。第27條對加拿大多元文化遺產的保障，應作為一項重要的界線。在追求公正解決方案的過程中，我們的目標是確保在加華人及東南亞裔群體的聲音能被聽見與重視。」
CCNC-SJ 和 CSALC 非常榮幸能由加拿大著名人權律師 Raj Anand 以及 陳緯安、Christine Dang 和 Simon Kuan 作為法律代表。