For immediate release: March 5, 1998
Douglas Christie to Speak in Victoria on his constitutional challenge of the Recall and Initiative Legislation
Douglas Christie will be speaking on Saturday, March 7, 1998 at 2:00 p.m. at Saanich Commonwealth Place. He will be speaking about his challenge of the Recall legislation as well as the Supreme Court Reference with regards to Quebec's right to declare separation unilaterally.
He will publically announce that he will be serving the Attorney General of British Columbia and challenging the constitutionality of the Recall and Initiative Legislation. He will be arguing that section 23, a & b are contrary to Section 7 of the Charter.
The section reads as follows:
23. A recall petition must comply with the following requirements:
(a) the petition must be submitted to the chief electoral officer within 60 days from the date on which the petition was issued under section 20;
(b) the petition must be signed by more than 40% of the total number of individuals who are authorized to sign the recall petition under section 21;
Mr. Christie will be arguing that the security and liberty of the person has been abridged because it makes democratic recall untenable and unavailable. British Columbians voted overwhelming for the recall legislation under Premier Vanderzalm but the N.D.P. has made the legislation so unworkable as to nullify the intent of the original law.
The right to vote to vote is an expression of freedom of speech under section 2b of the Charter. There are many precedents in which the courts can amend or read down legislation and regulations when politicians enact it to be contrary to the Charter of Rights.
To interview Douglas Christie:
Tel: (250) 385-1022
Fax (250) 479-3294
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