As challenges to the democratic process dominate international headlines, there is a growing concern amongst Canadians that political and ideological influences could begin to shape court decisions within the country.
To help address these concerns, a coalition of Canadian law societies has launched “Ours to Protect”— a national campaign aimed at raising awareness about the importance of the rule of law and addressing the threats that face it.
“The rule of law is the principle that laws govern Canada, not the specific interests of individuals or governments. It means no one is above the law,” reads the Ours to Protect campaign website.
Although Canada ranks relatively high in the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index, there are concerns that trends showing a worldwide decline in the rule of law over the past eight consecutive years could start to be seen in the country.
This worldwide decline coincides with the increased erosion of legal checks and balances due to rising rates of global authoritarianism; however, threats to judicial independence, inconsistent or weak enforcement of laws, and the spread of disinformation that undermines trust in institutions all play a factor in eroding a nation’s rule of law.
The Ours to Protect campaign seeks to help Canadians to recognize the threats facing the justice system, learn about the centrality of the rule of law to democracy, and take action to safeguard judiciary processes.
The support for the Campaign from ten Canadian law societies demonstrates a unified effort from the regulatory bodies to defend the rule of law in the public interest by assuring the judiciary process remains independent of government influence and is rooted in equality, transparency, and accountability for all.
The Ours to Protect website states its purpose is “[to] spread awareness of what’s at stake and what we can all do to keep Canada’s democracy strong.”
“The time to act is now,” the website reads, “before we lose what took generations to build.”
The Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society encourages members of the profession and the public to learn more about the rule of law in Canada and its importance to the democratic process by visiting OurstoProtect.ca.