In an effort to bring innovations to its immigration and refugee system, Canada has begun using automated decision-making to help make determinations about people’s applications. A report released in September 2018 by the University of Toronto’s International Human Rights Program and the Citizen … [Read more...]
Transparency Around Jurors and Verdicts Would Help Trial Fairness
To many observers, the verdict in the Gerald Stanley trial was wholly unsatisfactory. From the outside, an acquittal in the shooting death of the 22-year-old Cree man Colten Boushie seemed unthinkable: he had been shot in the back of the head, while sitting unarmed in a vehicle. The trial became a … [Read more...]
Bringing Clarity to Passenger Compensation Rules
The last time Ottawa decided to make some noise about air passenger rights, in 2000, they brought an ex-NHL referee to a news conference. Bruce Hood, the newly minted air complaints commissioner, pulled out a whistle and blew it. Literally. If you’re looking for the highlight of Ottawa’s past … [Read more...]
Greater Electoral Access for the Homeless
Much more needs to be done to ensure that homeless people are encouraged to vote and given equal opportunity to do so. Do homeless people vote? Although they are citizens of Canada, the political participation of homeless people has rarely been considered. The health of our democracy should be … [Read more...]
Defending the Court Challenges Program
After much anticipation, the federal government has announced the reinstatement of the Court Challenges Program. Set to cost $12 million over five years, the CCP will assist Canadians with legal challenges to advance and protect their Charter rights. The decision is a welcome one. The program’s … [Read more...]
Recovering the Species at Risk Act
Wildlife is central to the Canadian identity. From Indigenous communities to the urbanites of our largest cities, an overwhelming majority of Canadians want the federal government to protect and restore species at risk of extinction. The principal federal instrument that provides for this … [Read more...]
Viewpoint 41-5: Canada at 150: How strong are the ties that bind our federations?
The nation is not in crisis - what better time to take a fresh look at the state of our federal community? Graham Fox and F. Leslie Seidle Canadians are enjoying a year-long celebration of the 150th anniversary of Confederation. This important milestone will be marked by festivities of various … [Read more...]
