Photo by Donald Tong from Pexels Mental health crises for which there are few resources COVID-19 lockdowns Overuse of solitary confinement A racialized justice system that criminalizes Indigenous Peoples and Black Canadians A lack of preparation for re-entry into society These are the tip-of-the-iceberg issues faced by inmates in Canada’s federal and provincial prisons. And […]
About John Cooper
In Canada and elsewhere, freedom of speech is on the endangered list
Freedom of speech. Freedom of the press. These phrases may conjure up Hollywood-style images of noble activists and principled reporters butting heads with those in power – and winning. However, the reality is often far different: surveillance, gag orders, expensive and oppressive lawsuits, and activists and journalists being arrested, imprisoned – and in extreme cases, […]
Where the Monarchy Meets the State: Canada’s Vice-Regal Offices
It is a role that straddles several worlds – political, royal, legal and diplomatic – and combines tact, careful judgment, discretion and wisdom. Welcome to the offices of the governor general of Canada and the provincial lieutenant governors. As a constitutional monarchy, Canada’s Parliament has two well-known components, the House of Commons and the Senate, […]
Law Society of Ontario Targets Systemic Racism in the Legal Profession
An amended Rules of Professional Conduct was just one of 13 recommendations delivered by the Law Society of Ontario in a lengthy report designed to address issues of long-standing systemic discrimination in the legal system. Entitled Working Together for Change: Strategies to address issues of systemic racism in the legal professions, the report was approved […]
Journalists Feel the Chill in a Changing Media World
Journalism students who are mulling over important questions such as “Where will I find a job?” and “Will I be able to cover the legal beat?” as they face a potentially shrinking job market, may have more than just job prospects to worry about. Today, the media world is rapidly shrinking, consolidating, shedding jobs and […]
