National

Chief justice says rule of law, judicial independence defend Canada from autocracy

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 06 Oct, 2025 08:41 AM

Chief Justice Richard Wagner says that while Canada is not a superpower in the traditional sense of the word, it is certainly a democratic superpower.

Wagner told dignitaries at the Supreme Court of Canada today that the country's legal community is united in a deep conviction that the rule of law and judicial independence are not abstract concepts.

He said these tenets are the best defence against tyranny and autocracy.

Wagner addressed today's ceremonial opening of the top court's judicial year — the first such event since September 1986.

Justice Minister Sean Fraser, lawyers, academics and students joined former members of the court and its staff for the occasion.

As the Supreme Court marks its 150th anniversary, Wagner called on participants to affirm the principles of the rule of law, judicial independence and equal access to justice.

Picture Courtesy: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Vancouver police deploying big presence to 'maintain order' at anti-Tesla protests

Vancouver police say they are investigating 28 anti-Tesla incidents and will deploy more than 130 extra officers to "maintain order" at protests targeting the electric carmaker this weekend.

Vancouver police deploying big presence to 'maintain order' at anti-Tesla protests

Liberals revoke Arya's nomination, after removing him from leadership race

Liberal MP Chandra Arya says his nomination to run for the party again in his Ottawa riding has been revoked. The 62-year-old has represented the city's Nepean seat since 2015.

Liberals revoke Arya's nomination, after removing him from leadership race

Carney confirms Liberals won't proceed with planned capital gains tax change By Craig Lord

Days before he's expected to call a federal election, Prime Minister Mark Carney is confirming he won't move ahead with a key Liberal tax policy. The Prime Minister's Office says a plan to hike the inclusion rate on capital gains, first pitched in the federal budget last year, will not move forward.

Carney confirms Liberals won't proceed with planned capital gains tax change By Craig Lord

U.S. limits Canadian access to border-straddling library, citing security concerns

For more than 100 years, people in Stanstead, Que., have been able to walk into Derby Line, Vt., to enter the border-straddling Haskell Free Library and Opera House – no passport required. But municipal and library officials said on Friday that U.S. authorities have unilaterally decided to end the century-old unwritten agreement.

U.S. limits Canadian access to border-straddling library, citing security concerns

Carney, premiers seeking plan for national energy, trade corridor

Prime Minister Mark Carney says he and the country's premiers agreed today to work on a plan to develop a national trade and energy corridor. Carney and the premiers are meeting in Ottawa to deal with what he called a "crisis" caused by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs.

Carney, premiers seeking plan for national energy, trade corridor

B.C. court voids 'cult' marriage, finding woman didn't 'truly consent'

A British Columbia judge has annulled the marriage of a woman to a fellow member of an India-based "cult group," saying she didn't "truly consent" to the 2023 wedding. The B.C. Supreme Court ruling issued this week says the woman claimed she was manipulated and overwhelmed by a "barrage" of overtures from the man and his family that began in October 2022.