The federal government claimed cabinet confidentiality over its discussions on COVID-19 mandatory quarantine hotel rules, shielding what was behind the decision even from the scrutiny of the Chief Justice of the Federal Court. That’s what is being claimed at a trial challenging the constitutionality of the controversial rules. “Cabinet confidentiality has been claimed, so, none of us today can say what was actually before cabinet when they made their decision,” lawyer Robert Hawkes complained to the court. The Federal Court is hearing four similar but separate challenges of Canada’s quarantine hotel rules and about 10,000 pages of documents have been filed. Cabinet confidence exists so that ministers can have rigorous debate without being worried about public perception.The challenges to the hotel quarantine order were filed by Rebel News Network, the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, and the CEO of a cannabis company, whose lawyers said this decision was made arbitrarily, and travellers could have been given less stringent options. Federal Court Chief Justice Paul Crampton reserved his decision but promised a decision as soon as possible because “the issues you raise are time-sensitive in nature.”
You will be redirected in 2 seconds.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY
