Changing laws

Government legal experts are constantly
examining our laws, looking for ways to
improve them. Law reform committees
review laws and recommend changes.

Lawyers bring questions of law to court
to bring about change. Social action
groups seek changes to laws that they
consider unfair to members of Canadian
society. Legislators at the federal,
provincial and territorial governments
respond by introducing new laws or
amendments to old ones to be considered
and debated in Parliament and
the legislatures.

Ultimately, though, the responsibility
for changing our laws is not left entirely
to the lawyers, the experts or the
interest groups. It is the people of
Canada who elect the lawmakers; we
need to decide what we want from the
law and then make sure it reflects those
wishes. Everyone has the right to point
out flaws in the law and to work
towards changing these laws – lawfully,
of course.