The federal government plans to expand eligibility for Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) in March 2027. Alberta’s Bill 18 may place stricter limits on MAID eligibility in the province.In March 2024, I wrote an article titled “Canada is not yet Ready to Expand its Medical Assistance in Dying … [Read more...]
Don’t Be Afraid to Call 9-1-1: Immunity from Prosecution When Dealing with Drug Overdoses
The Good Samaritan Drug Overdose Act protects people from criminal charges for drug possession if they call 9-1-1 to report a drug overdose.Under the law of possession in criminal law, you can be arrested even if you do not physically have any drugs on you. For example, if you are in someone … [Read more...]
Enhancing Canada’s Legal Framework for Addressing Online Sexual Exploitation
Online human trafficking is a growing concern in Canada. Evidence-based reforms are key to protecting vulnerable people from being exploited.Human trafficking (HT) and sex trafficking specifically is one of the most profitable crimes worldwide, with an estimated profit of more than $206 … [Read more...]
Reasonable Force: What are the limits of self-defence in Canada?
Under Canada's self-defence law, a person is allowed to defend themselves and their property from intruders, but the amount of force they use must be reasonable in the circumstances.A high-profile incident in August 2025 sparked heated debate in Canada about the law of self-defence. A man … [Read more...]
To Bail or Not To Bail? That is the Question
Bail reform in Canada is once again a hot topic. Understanding Constitutional protections and what the Criminal Code says about bail and the bail process is a critical first step to the discussion.The political cries for bail reform are once again ringing through the streets of major cities in … [Read more...]
The Evolution of Canadian Law
Since Canada became a country in 1867, Canadian law has evolved from that of a British colony to a sovereign state, including major developments like the Charter, the Criminal Code and the Divorce Act.EDITOR’S NOTE This article was first published in LawNow on May 5, 2017. It was reviewed … [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...]
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...]
A Faith Perspective: Canada’s ban on conversion therapy
An essay on what Canada’s ban on conversion therapy means to me as an advocate for inclusion and safety for 2SLGBTQ+ people in faith communities.My name is Pam Rocker. I am the Director of Affirming Connections, an organization based in Southern Alberta. We support the voices of people of faith, … [Read more...]
Supporting Canada’s Ban on Conversion Therapy: A cisgender, straight woman’s perspective
I am a cisgender, straight woman. So, what does the ban on conversion therapy mean to me? A lot!Given how I just identified myself, you may be wondering why I would be so supportive of something that is seemingly outside of my reality. Well … if one wonders that, one may not get the point of … [Read more...]
