Bill C-332 is a noble attempt to protect domestic abuse victims from escalating violence. However, the proposed law does not help seniors who are harmed by adult children and other relatives like grandchildren, once again banishing elder abuse to the hinterlands of the criminal justice … [Read more...]
Romance Scams: When it really is too good to be true
In an era where relationships often begin online, romance scams have emerged as an increasingly significant threat.In 2021 alone, victims of romance scams had lost over 50 million dollars (and this is just what was reported), according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Hiding behind the … [Read more...]
Legal experts dispute the use of federal prisons for refugees
Although Canada has welcomed more than one million refugees since 1980, the challenging path to freedom in Canada continues to be difficult as some newcomers face time behind bars – despite being guilty of no crime at all.Recently, the federal government quietly announced plans to jail … [Read more...]
The Right to Speak to a Lawyer is Not an Admission of Guilt
A call to podcast hosts and journalists to stop using constitutional rights as an ominous plot pointAs a true crime podcast and documentary connoisseur by night, and a criminal defence lawyer by day, declaring that my world is saturated with true crime content is an understatement. I enjoy … [Read more...]
Defending the Defence
The Umar Zameer case demonstrates the important role defence counsel play in advocating for the innocent and protecting the integrity of our justice system.Defence counsel are almost always villainized by the media. They are often cast as an inhumane bump on the road to justice in movies and … [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...]
Accessing the Justice System: Specialized support is critical for sexual violence survivors
For sexual violence survivors who choose to access the criminal justice system, working with a specialized police and court support advocate can have a huge positive impact on their experience.The criminal legal system is a crucial pathway to justice for victims of crime. It provides a … [Read more...]
There is No Such Thing as a Hate Crime Offence in Canada
But do not panic because Canada’s Criminal Code not only includes five hate-based offences but also allows a judge to consider during sentencing whether hate motivated any other offence.In Canada, we do not have an offence in our Criminal Code that is called a “hate crime.” Yet during a time … [Read more...]
Strategies for Success: A better path to preventing workplace sexual harassment
Studies show traditional models of anti-harassment education don't work, so AASAS developed Engagement Strategies Toward Ending Workplace Sexual Harassment, a better path to workplace sexual harassment training.What comes to mind when you think of workplace sexual harassment … [Read more...]
Sexual Violence: It’s prevalent and preventable
Sexual violence includes child sexual abuse, sexual assault and sexual harassment. It's more prevalent than you might think, but we can prevent further harm by working together.What is sexual violence?Sexual violence is a broad term that includes child sexual abuse, sexual assault and … [Read more...]
