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...]
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...]
CPLEA Resources: Canada’s ban on conversion therapy
June is Pride Month but the need for LGBTQ+ resources continues year-round, including about Canada's recent ban on conversion therapy. On January 7, 2022, Canada banned conversion therapy. Canada's Criminal Code now includes four new criminal offences banning conversion therapy and related conduct. … [Read more...]
What Powers Do Police Have to Stop Me?
Questions often come up around police stops, including whether police can stop you and whether you have to speak to them or follow their instructions if they do. DISCLAIMER | This article is meant to be a guide, not specific legal advice for your situation. Always consult a legal clinic or speak to … [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...]
We Must Reject the Harmful Practice of Conversion Therapy
Canada banned conversion therapy, effective January 7, 2022. What does this ban mean to me? The issue of conversion therapy is of paramount importance to me. I have spent more than a decade addressing Muslim homophobia and building the case for Muslim same-sex unions. In 2005, when I gingerly … [Read more...]
