The legal system in Canada treats young offenders differently than adults. The Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) regulates the youth justice system. Under the YCJA, young people are held accountable for their criminal acts, but not in the same way as adults. The YCJA provides special … [Read more...]
About Myrna El Fakhry Tuttle
Privacy and Medical Information in the Workplace
How can we balance an employer's right to know about illness or disability and an employee's right to privacy? Editor's Note: A version of this important article first appeared in LawNow in 2019. It has been reviewed for legal accuracy in 2024 by the author. Requesting medical information … [Read more...]
Why is Canada a Bilingual Country?
Canada has two official languages: French and English. We always wonder why. Editor's Note: A version of this important article first appeared in LawNow in 2019. It has been reviewed for legal accuracy in 2024 by the author. Canada’s two colonizing peoples are the French and the British. … [Read more...]
Right to Protest on Canadian University Campuses
Protest encampments on Canadian university campuses have been dealt with variously. Some universities have issued trespass notices and have ordered the encampment to be removed, with the help of the police, within hours of its set up. Other universities have filed for an injunction – that was … [Read more...]
Canada is not yet Ready to Expand its Medical Assistance in Dying Legislation
Canada's Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) laws were set to change in March 2024 to include mental disorders. But the federal government has once again delayed implementation until at least March 2027. Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) was legalized in Canada in 2016 and became available to … [Read more...]
The Protection of Human Rights in Armed Conflicts
During times of armed conflict, international humanitarian law (IHL) and human rights law (HRL) are meant to protect human beings and reduce their suffering. Armed conflicts are happening in various parts of the world. Unfortunately, serious violations of international humanitarian law (IHL) … [Read more...]
Are Canada’s Air Passenger Protection Regulations Working?
Canada's Air Passenger Protection Regulations protect passengers traveling to, from or within Canada, including by setting out compensation rules for when flights are delayed or cancelled. When something goes wrong with our flight, we get very annoyed. Nowadays, there are a lot of … [Read more...]
Public Trust Doctrine and Climate Litigation in Canada
The right to a healthy environment is making headway thanks to case law against governments arguing the public trust doctrine and with changes under Bill S-5 to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. AUTHOR'S NOTE (September 2023) On August 14, 2023, the Montana First Judicial District … [Read more...]
Sexual Assault is on the Rise in Canada
Though sexual assault is the only violent crime in Canada not declining, many incidents are not reported to police for reasons including victim blaming and low confidence in the justice system. In August 2022, Statistics Canada reported that sexual assault is the only violent crime in Canada … [Read more...]
Racial Bullying in Schools
Studies show a majority of students have witnessed or experienced racism at school, with implications for both students and teachers. A majority of students in Canada have either witnessed or experienced racism at their schools, according to a 2021 survey by the Angus Reid Institute in … [Read more...]
