Wilson-Raybould wants Supreme Court advice on genetic non-discrimination bill
OTTAWA — Justin Trudeau’s government wants the Supreme Court of Canada’s advice on a bill aimed at preventing genetic discrimination after the prime minister failed to persuade his own Liberal backbenchers that it’s unconstitutional.
Just one day after 104 Liberals joined forces with Conservative and New Democrat MPs to give Bill S-201 final approval in the House of Commons, Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould announced that she wants to refer the legislation to the country’s top court.
“We are contemplating and wanting to move forward with putting a reference forward on the constitutionality of the genetic non-discrimination act,” she said Thursday.
“We, as the prime minister articulated yesterday, have serious concerns about the constitutionality of one of the parts of the bill … That concern remains.”