In 2025, Alberta passed the Compassionate Intervention Act, which allows designated individuals to ask the court to admit someone for drug treatment without that person's consent. Some critics say it violates several Charter rights.In 2024, 1,414 people died in Alberta from drug poisoning, … [Read more...]
Will the Alberta Legislature use the Charter’s Notwithstanding Clause to shield controversial Education Act changes?
The Alberta government may use the notwithstanding clause to protect new controversial laws, including those requiring parents to be notified if their child wishes to use new, gender-related preferred names or pronouns at school.In November 2024, LawNow published Student Charter Rights in the … [Read more...]
Canada’s Legal Leaders in Human Rights Continue the Fight for Fairness
The recent passing of Canadian human rights lawyer Susan Eng provides an opportunity to reflect on the status of human rights in Canada as well as the work of Eng and other human rights lawyers fighting for fairness.Many people may think of human rights as being shaped by David-versus-Goliath … [Read more...]
Significant Compensation for Workplace Sexual Harassment: Employers should take note
Sexual harassment at work is a form of discrimination under human rights laws, and recent significant awards from the Alberta Human Rights Commission should encourage employers to address this behaviour in the workplace.The Alberta Human Rights Act (the Act) protects Albertans from … [Read more...]
The State of Academic Freedom in Canada
Academic freedom is a central value of university life that allows students and scholars to question and share ideas without fear of punishment, though it's protected in Canada largely through collective agreements, not statute law.Academic freedom is vital to the advancement of knowledge and … [Read more...]
When Can the Government Infringe Upon my Rights: The Oakes test
Courts in Canada use the Oakes test to decide whether a government’s law, policy or action is justified even though it infringes on someone’s Charter rights.When an individual believes a government’s law, policy or action has infringed on their Charter rights, courts use the Oakes test to … [Read more...]
Student Charter Rights in the Wake of Bill 27
Saskatchewan passed a law requiring students under 16 years to have parental consent before using a new gender-related preferred name or gender identity at school. Alberta is following suit but how does the Charter come into play?The Canadian Charter of Rights and FreedomsThe Canadian … [Read more...]
Provincial Directives for Colleges and Universities: Government overreach?
It looks good on paper: protect student mental health, fight against racism, and ensure that costs are transparent. But is it overreach?Bill 166 ExplainedIn May of 2024, the Ontario government amended its Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities Act with Bill 166 (the Strengthening … [Read more...]
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 article first appeared in LawNow in 2019. It has been reviewed for legal accuracy in 2024 by the author.Requesting medical information from … [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 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. They … [Read more...]
