Feb. 26: Benefits buyers? Or realtors? Plus other letters to the editor GlobeDebate
: Lori Turnbull argues, as Privy Council Clerk Michael Wernick did before the House justice committee, that appropriate pressure can be applied by the PMO on the A-G to intervene in a prosecution.Under the constitutional principle of independent prosecutorial decision-making , information concerning the effects of a prosecution can be provided to the A-G by other cabinet ministers, but no one is allowed to apply pressure.
Jody Wilson-Raybould should have immediately reported publicly who put pressure on her. That she didn’t do this highlights the conflict of interest the A-G is in as a member of cabinet, as Adam Dodek pointed out . Democracy Watch has long proposed that the attorney-general for every government in Canada should be a lawyer, with the sole job of advising the government on the legality of its actions, and have no role in prosecutions.The justice minister should only handle changes to justice-related laws and operations of justice-related programs, with full transparency required concerning the reasons for any funding changes that affect prosecutions.
Duff Conacher, co-founder, Democracy Watch; adjunct professor of law and politics, University of Ottawa
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Five things you should know before starting your work day on Feb. 26The top business stories you won’t want to miss from the Financial Post
Read more »
Your daily horoscope: February 26Your daily horoscope
Read more »
Five things you should know before starting your work day on Feb. 22Happy Friday! Five things you should know before starting your work day
Read more »
7 things to do in Metro Vancouver: Feb. 22-28, 2019This week features some of the top-rated female pop artists working today, and more.
Read more »
Five things you should know before you start your work day on Feb. 21The top business stories you won’t want to miss from the Financial Post
Read more »
Five things you should know before your start your work day on Feb. 20Five things you should know before your start your work day FPExecEditor
Read more »
Letters, Feb. 21: It's time for mandatory vaccination, says retired public health nurseVancouver Sun letters to the editor for Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019.
Read more »