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

A massive cyberattack hits X, tracing those behind it: Elon Musk

Elon Musk on Monday said a massive cyber attack has hit his X social media platform, that disabled millions of users across the globe, including in India, from accessing the popular platform. The X platform went down in a massive global outage as users were unable to access the micro-blogging platform.

A massive cyberattack hits X, tracing those behind it: Elon Musk

Eby: B.C. will remove consumer carbon tax as promised once federal barrier is down

British Columbia Premier David Eby says his government will move as quickly as it can to remove the consumer-based carbon tax once the federal law upholding it is removed. Eby's response comes after Mark Carney won the federal Liberal leadership race and reiterated during his speech Sunday that he will reverse the consumer carbon price.

Eby: B.C. will remove consumer carbon tax as promised once federal barrier is down

Mark Carney is the new Liberal leader. What happens now?

Mark Carney was elected to lead the Liberal party on Sunday and will soon become Canada's next prime minister. Carney captured 85.9 per cent of the Liberal vote - far ahead of opponents Chrystia Freeland (who got eight per cent), Karina Gould (3.2 per cent) and Frank Baylis, who came in last with three per cent. Carney has promised a speedy transition of power and an early election call is widely expected in the coming days or weeks.

Mark Carney is the new Liberal leader. What happens now?

B.C. pulling all U.S. booze from government stores, widening red-state liquor ban

American beer, wine and all other alcohol is being removed from government stores in British Columbia in retaliation for U.S. tariffs, expanding a ban on liquor from so-called red states that voted for U.S. President Donald Trump. Premier David Eby said the widening of the ban to cover all alcohol, regardless of its state of origin, comes in response the latest news from the United States, including threats of additional tariffs on the dairy industry.

B.C. pulling all U.S. booze from government stores, widening red-state liquor ban

Trudeau says that 'Canada is not a given' in farewell speech amid Trump threats

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that freedom, democracy and Canada "are not a given" in his farewell speech to Liberals just before former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney was announced as the new Liberal leader. This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens Canada with economic annexation and places tariffs on Canadian imports coming into the United States.

Trudeau says that 'Canada is not a given' in farewell speech amid Trump threats

Ironworkers Local 97 calls for 'immediate end' to Temporary Foreign Worker program

Ironworkers Local 97 business manager Doug Parton said the union has been lobbying the federal government for years about shoring up the domestic skilled trades workforce.