Green Leader Annamie Paul kicked off her policy announcement Monday by “calling for an emergency recall of Parliament in order to have an emergency debate on the emerging situation in Afghanistan.” But constitutional experts say this is not possible. Gen. Mary Simon to recall Parliament so that there can be an “emergency debate.”Sujit Choudhry, an independent constitutional lawyer who advised the Green party on the issue said it’s legally possible for Simon to recall a dissolved Parliament under exceptional circumstances, though he can’t recall a time when it’s happened before. The Star spoke to two constitutional experts who say he — and Paul — are mistaken. If he got the approval of opposition parties, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could theoretically take emergency actions in Afghanistan, Mendes said, but he wouldn’t be able to recall Parliament to have the kind of debate Paul is suggesting. Clarification — Aug. 16, 2021: This story has been edited to clarify that Sujit Choudhry advised the Green Party of Canada on the issue but is not a party adviser.

Source: thestar August 17, 2021 00:45 UTC