July 16, 2019
The fact that the Canadian federal election date of October 21 falls on a Jewish high holiday is “troubling,” Colin Feasby, Managing Partner of Osler’s Calgary office, tells National Post. In his article, author Adrian Humphreys examines how on Shemini Atzeret, orthodox Jews are to refrain from writing, travelling or using phones, which would be an impediment to voting in the election. Advocacy groups are calling for the election date to be changed accordingly. Justice Ann Marie McDonald reserved her decision but said she would issue her ruling “as soon as possible,” according to National Post. Colin, who is representing B’nai Brith Canada, a Jewish advocacy group that was granted intervener status in the case brought by Chani Aryeh-Bain and Ira Walfish — who are asking the Federal Court of Canada to order the Chief Electoral Officer, who heads Elections Canada, to push the election date back a week — says that this is a case of democratic rights.
“The stakes are high,” Colin, a partner in Osler’s Litigation Group, tells National Post. “At its heart, this is a case of what it means to count in Canadian society. Holding the federal election on a date where a religious minority cannot vote by reason of their beliefs sends a message to that community that it does not count.
“More troubling in the context of historical oppression of Jews, it sends a message to the broader Canadian society that this minority community and their beliefs do not count and their democratic rights are not worthy of protection.”
For more information, read author Adrian Humphreys’ article “Court hears challenge over conflict of fall federal election date and Jewish high holiday” on July 17, 2019, in National Post.