Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says if elected he’d use the notwithstanding clause to overturn Friday’s ruling from the Supreme Court striking down mandatory minimums for accessing or possessing child pornography.
Friday’s decision deeming those one-year prison sentences unconstitutional not only split the bench 5-4, but has received swift backlash from provincial and federal leaders.
Poilievre added to the mounting condemnation in an interview with CBC News.
“This ruling is wrong-headed and I would oppose the ruling and I would use the notwithstanding clause to overturn it,” he said in an interview airing on CBC's Rosemary Barton Live Sunday.
“My future government will introduce mandatory prison sentences for possession of child pornography so that dirtbags like this go away for a very long time.”
Section 33 of the Charter — known as the notwithstanding clause — allows for provincial or federal legislation to override certain Charter rights for a five-year period.
WATCH | Poilievre reacts to Suprem
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