Court Hearings in Charkaoui case

Tuesday, 10 and Wednesday, 11 March from 9:30 am
80 McGill St., metro Square Victoria
(If you come late, please call 514 222 0205 to make sure the hearings are still on.)

Although there was another significant victory in the fight for justice and equality last month when the conditions imposed on Adil Charkaoui were substantially reduced, his struggle against the unconstitutional (in)security certificate is far from over. This coming week, on 10 and 11 March, his lawyers will be in court to argue several important legal questions which will set the stage for the coming months in his case, and potentially have a broad impact on the rights of many people.

These include important questions relating to:

• the interpretation of the term "national security" (in the context of a security certificate and non-disclosure of evidence), and related questions about the burden of proof and the standard of proof;
• the fact that it is NOT premature to challenge the constitutionality of the new security certificate legislation in light of the violations in Charkaoui's case;
• the right to party-to-party disclosure of information or evidence (that is, before public disclosure via the Court), in order to protect the contested rights; and
• the interpretation of the June 2008 Supreme Court decision Charkaoui 2 as it relates to the legal principles applying to the submission of new evidence.

The hearings are open to all and it is as important as ever for members of the public to observe these hearings. It is particularly important that people be there to observe the debate on the question of the definition of "national security".

Please take an hour or two to participate in the hearings and help prepare the public report for Federal Court Watch.