14 June 2007

Wait five minutes

Only a couple of days after dismissing legal action against the federal government as a waste of time, Premier Danny Williams is considering joining Saskatchewan in its case against the Harper administration on Equalization.

The Premier said he hadn't considered the idea of legal action, preferring to try the matter in the court of public opinion.

Meanwhile, McGill constitutional law professor Stephen Scott says there is a way to put the matter in front of the courts.

The fastest, most economical route through the legal system would be to start an action for a declaratory order to see if the agreement is legally binding.

Then Nova Scotia could use the power of reference that every province has in its statute books to send a set of detailed questions to the court of appeal.

-srbp-