Apparently legislatures CAN restrict future legislatures in their ability to change laws.
From the Ruling:
At paragraph 34 of the Producer Car Shippers argument, attention
is directed to the following passages from Professor Hogg’s text, Constitutional Law of Canada, (Carswell, Toronto, 5th ed, 2007):
Would the Parliament or a Legislature be bound by self-imposed
rules as to the “manner and form” in which statutes were to be
enacted? The answer, in my view, is yes.
[…]
Thus, while the federal Parliament or a provincial Legislature cannot
bind itself as to the substance of future legislation, it can bind itself as
to the manner and form of future legislation.
[…]
It seems implausible that a legislative body should be disabled from
making changes to its present structure and procedures. Moreover,
the case-law, while not conclusive, tends to support the validity of
self-imposed manner and form requirements.
With this ruling in mind I propose the following amendment to Bill C-19 be moved in the Senate:
The Minister shall not cause to be introduced in Parliament a bill that would change the firearms act in whole or in part unless:
(a) the Minister has consulted with firearm owners about the amendments; and
(b) gun owners have voted in favour of the amendments, the voting process having been determined by the Minister.
Similar amendments should be made to every bill the government passes. Perhaps they could introduce a bill stating that no minister shall introduce any bill to amend anything without consulting me and getting me to vote in favour. It seems reasonable enough, it's not a restriction on what laws can be passed it's only a statement on the "manner and form" those changes need to take.
