The law changed on September 1, 2023 for how drivers pass stopped vehicles with flashing lights and moving snowplows, though the changes are not as robust as once promised.EDITOR'S NOTE CPLEA originally published this article on August 23, 2023. It incorrectly described the current law. … [Read more...]
The Right To Die and the Debate Surrounding Mental Illness
Medical assistance in dying, or MAID, has been legal in Canada since 2016 and has continued to evolve. The current debate is around expanding MAID eligibility to patients experiencing mental health conditions.Medical assistance in dying (MAID) is a process where a medical professional … [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...]
An Overview of Specialized Courts & Restorative Justice at Provincial Court in Edmonton
Edmonton's Indigenous Court, Mental Health Court and Drug Treatment Court use restorative justice principles in sentencing a person convicted of a criminal offence.The Edmonton Indigenous Court, Edmonton Mental Health Court and Edmonton Drug Treatment Court are three specialized courts in the … [Read more...]
2022 Criminal Law in Review
Over the past year, important criminal law developments came from several changes Parliament made to Canada's Criminal Code.The law is always changing. So, it is challenging to list the most significant developments over the last 12 months. Others might have different choices, but what follows is … [Read more...]
Gambling in the Online Age
While gambling facilities must have a provincial license to operate, only government-operated websites offer legal gambling online.You have probably seen ads for online gambling websites all over the place - commercials, social media, even at the Superbowl. But did you know these websites are not … [Read more...]
Say Yes to Understanding Drug Legislation
Drug legislation in Canada is complex with four main pieces of legislation governing drug offences and processes.Most of us educated in the Canadian public school system have been told to say no to drugs. It is a slogan often stuck on the back of bathroom stall doors in bright coloured posters. … [Read more...]
A Brief History of Drug Criminalization in Canada
Canada's legal history of drugs has evolved since the late 1800s, coming almost full circle with current calls to decriminalize possession for personal use.As I write this short history of the criminalization of drugs in Canada, the federal and British Columbia governments have announced that in … [Read more...]
Decriminalization of Drugs in Canada: What does it mean and how would it work?
Drug policy is changing in Canada, with Bill C-5 and requests for exemptions under section 56(1) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.There is a growing acknowledgement in Canada that drug use is a health issue and not a criminal justice problem. This is an important distinction given the … [Read more...]
Drug Decriminalization: How attitudes toward drugs are changing the social and legal landscape
Today, attention is on decriminalizing possession of “harder” substances, with an emphasis on compassion, care and support for people who use drugs.Attitudes toward drug use are changing. Gone are the days of “Reefer Madness” of the 1930s and “dope fiend” references finding their way into … [Read more...]
