… some may argue that the publication of Shakespeare’s Henry VI, with its famous phrase “let’s kill all the lawyers”, should be subject to state scrutiny! - R. v. Hamilton, 2005 SCC 47 Introduction A few years ago, a University of Calgary professor suggested on national television that someone … [Read more...]
Basic Facts in Federal Corrections
Canada’s incarceration rate is 117/100,000 adults and youth, while the United States' is 762/100,000 and France's is 91/100,000.The Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA) has been in force since1992 and was amended in 2012. The CCRA outlines the responsibilities of the Correctional … [Read more...]
How Criminal Records and Police Reports can Ruin Your Travel Plans
There’s a reason why Canadian passports are in high demand with international criminals and forgers. Our record of good international relations, history of peacekeeping and foreign aid, and the generally good perception of Canadians gives our passport holders easy entry to more countries than just … [Read more...]
The Whatcott Case: Balancing Free Speech and Social Harmony
Introduction: a Clash of Rights The freedoms of conscience, religion, thought, belief, opinion and expression comprise some of our “fundamental freedoms” listed in section 2 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. They assure the free exchange of ideas, the practice of one’s faith, the development … [Read more...]
Supreme Court Reins in Social Credit
The Reference Re Alberta Statutes case of 1938 (Reference Re Alberta Statutes - The Bank Taxation Act; The Credit of Alberta Regulation Act; and the Accurate News and Information Act, [1938] SCR 100 ) has been written about elsewhere but this monumental decision of the Supreme Court continues to … [Read more...]
The Increasing Importance of Reference Decisions in Canadian Law
Over the past several years, there have been a number of very significant reference decisions that have and will affect Canada’s legal landscape. A reference case is different than a regular civil or criminal case that involves litigating parties. In a reference, the federal or provincial … [Read more...]
Landmark Cases: Cases which have changed the Legal and Social Landscape of Canada
Judgments may constitute landmark decisions in the social context of their time such as the Persons Case (Edwards v. Canada (Attorney General), 1930 ) — where the Privy Council determined that women were eligible to be appointed to the Senate — but may not seem so very startling to our modern … [Read more...]
The State of Your Children: The Top Five Things you need to know about your children
This spring, UNICEF released Report Card 11 ranking the well-being of children in rich countries. Well-being is measured by a wide range of factors that make life better for children including healthy behaviours, positive relationships with peers and parents, high educational achievement and low … [Read more...]
The Protection of Young Workers in Canadian Employment Law
EDITOR'S NOTE The information in this article may be out-of-date. For current information on employment laws for workers under 18 years of age in Alberta, see CPLEA's Youth & Work FAQs.Employment laws are often different for young workers under 18 years of age to protect them from … [Read more...]
Public Legal Education and the Legal Needs of Vulnerable Youth
Vulnerable Youth and the Law Young people face many challenges as they prepare for and transition into adulthood. These challenges can easily transform into problems with the legal system. For marginalized youth, legal problems are compounded by other social problems. Some of the extra hurdles … [Read more...]
