In a roundtable with the National Citizens Inquiry (NCI) Leighton Grey provided insight into several cases to demonstrate a very serious trend in our legal system. A shift of power that, unfettered, can serve to destroy our democracy faster than our elected officials could.

This shift represents a complete distortion, a bastardization of what our legal system was designed to be.

In Leighton’s own words, via the Western Standard, “There has been a silent transference of lawmaking power from our elected legislators…and whoever else we elect…Judges have become the most powerful people in our country. We are ruled by judges.”

He goes on to say, “These judges, frankly, are not qualified to make law. They’re very isolated from the realities that most people experience…they’re generally intellectuals, they’re part of the elite. And they really should not be making law in a free and democratic society. But that is effectively what’s happening.”

Supreme Court of Canada Justice Malcolm Rowe stated, “The courts have no authority to amend the Constitution by adding new elements to it”. Grey agrees, adding “Their traditional role…is to interpret the law and to adjudicate…they’re not lawmakers. It’s totally undemocratic and, I think, unconstitutional, to have judges essentially being governors governing us, but that is what is happening.”

Judges are appointed and we have little to no influence over who is selected. As a result, their roles are very clearly defined and restricted to the position of legal interpreter. Their role is to weigh facts against established laws in a way that is fair and just, with metered punishments supported by severity, but within the confines of case law. At least that is their role as it was intended.

What we are seeing are judges chosen by friends and associates, selected for their allegiances and political leanings; favours given and expected in return. A practice that has been tolerated at some level, but these favours are now being used to bury the illegal actions of political elites.

We as Canadians have the final say. Stand up, call them out. Let’s take our country back now before it’s too late.