At the end of March 2014, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada held its last national gathering in Edmonton, Alberta. It now has one more year to finish poring through mountains of documents and to compile its report. It seems an apt time to pull together some online resources that can … [Read more...]
Vulnerable Youth in Canada’s North
Any discussion of “vulnerable youth” must begin by defining the scope and meaning of that term. In this article, I include those persons under the age of 18 years who are particularly vulnerable to neglect, and/or harm of various sorts. Sometimes this is a result of poverty alone, and parental … [Read more...]
Criminal Defence Law in the North: Part Two
In my last column (Part One) I briefly sketched out some aspects of substantive criminal law as it is enforced and applied in the Northwest Territories. I want in this contribution to comment upon some underlying factors which, at least sometimes, lead to criminal conduct, as well as aspects of … [Read more...]
Criminal Defence Law in the North: Part One
It seems that almost every lawyer who has travelled from southern Canada to practice law “North of 60” ends up writing about his or her experiences at some point. Almost all of those who are drawn to this part of Canada are struck by the geographical and physical beauty of this land, and by the … [Read more...]
The Proclamation of 1763: Britain’s Approach to Governing in the New World
The Royal Proclamation of 1763 resulted directly from the Seven Years’ War (1756-1763) between Britain and France. This conflict was in the nature of a world war with fighting principally in North America, the Caribbean, and India. With the Treaty of Paris of 1763 which ended the hostilities, … [Read more...]
The Yukon’s Open Entry Mining System Declared a Breach of the Duty to Consult with First Nations
Ross River Dena Council v Government of the Yukon 2012 YKCA 14 As Canada’s MPs returned to the House of Commons this January they were greeted by jingle dancers on Parliament Hill. The gathering was one of more than 30 to be held across Canada as part of a national day of action in … [Read more...]
Freedom from bias always your right: First Nations people can now seek equality other Canadians enjoy
Given the toxic stew of brutality and intolerance that envelops so much of the world, Canadians are right to feel a deep sense of privilege. We should be thankful not just for good institutions and laws, but for the force of our collective aspiration to build a society in one small corner of the … [Read more...]