Oct 3, 2016
CBC News – Catherine Cullen
Canada faces choice on international drug treaties over legalized pot – Legalizing pot will violate international treaties. What should Canada do?
Canada is signatory to two international treaties that are obstacles to the legalization of marijuana: 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and 1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. There are likely two options as well. Canada could take a principled stance and announce its support for legalized marijuana. Alternately, Canada could withdraw from the treaties and pursue exception for marijuana under renegotiated treaties. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/marijuana-legalization-pot-anti-drug-treaties-1.3780661
Toronto Star – Giuseppe Valiante, The Canadian Press
‘It’s a historical moment:’ First indigenous court created in Canada – Akwesasne has created the first indigenous legal system in Canada that was drafted by the community and independently of Ottawa
“The Mohawk band council of Akwesasne has introduced what is considered the first indigenous legal system in Canada outside a federal framework.” While the band has been administering laws for quite some time, the laws have always been in the shadow of the treaties or the federal laws of Canada. The Indigenous Court has now an approach “drafted by the community and independently of Ottawa.” RJ and women have played a major part in broadening the punitive only approach to justice. The question now is whether the court will be recognized by provincial and federal courts. https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2016/10/02/its-a-historical-moment-first-indigenous-court-created-in-canada.html Related article: Ottawa Citizen – Canadian Press, Montreal Gazette Akwesasne creates first civil court in Canada for and by indigenous people http://www.ottawacitizen.com/life/akwesasne+creates+first+indigenous+court+canada+indigenous+people/12243922/story.html
Toronto Star – Andrew Mitrovica
Prominent security expert says legislation fatally flawed – Bills C51 and C22 need to be repealed and rewritten, says constitutional lawyer Paul Cavalluzzo
Paul Cavalluzzo is a widely respected constitutional expert who thinks that C-51, the anti-terrorist legislation, “is so flawed that it should be repealed and the government ought to start over.” Keeping C-51, he says, would require a number of amendments elsewhere to existing legislation. Despite his known expertise and justly deserved and perhaps singular reputation in constitutional matters, no one in government has asked his opinion. https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2016/10/03/prominent-security-expert-says-legislation-fatally-flawed.html
Globe and Mail – Sean Fine
Canada’s bench strength: Meet the judges, new and old, of the Supreme Court
Fine anticipates the re-opening of the Supreme Court of Canada next week with a review of the current compliment of judges. The court is one person short and the appointment is mired in controversy over whether the Atlantic region or Indigenous people will have the next appointment while only two of the judges have been there for more than 5 years. Fine includes personal biography and a few notable cases. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/canadas-bench-strength-meet-the-judges-new-and-old-of-the-supreme-court/article32205375/
Ottawa Citizen – Tyler Dawson
Why the slow-going on prostitution law reform?
Remember the controversy over the question of legalizing prostitution and how narrowly close the resolution at the time? Dawson brings us an update on the issues and notes that not much has changed to date. “Today, criminal charges are still being laid, prostitution is still a shadowy industry and its many dangers – exacerbated by laws not yet repealed – continue, especially for the most vulnerable.” http://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/dawson-why-the-slow-going-on-prostitution-law-reform Related article: Vancouver Sun – Dahpne Bramham As Vancouver fails to enforce prostitution laws, Trudeau government needs to declare its stance on legalizing sex work http://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/as-vancouver-fails-to-enforce-prostitution-laws-trudeau-government-needs-to-declare-its-stance-on-legalizing-sex-work
Tyee (BC) – Frederick Blichert
Road to Mercy – CBC Documentary to air Oct. 6
Who Gets to Die? A New Documentary Asks Hard Questions – CBC explores implications of Canada’s new medical assistance in dying law. http://thetyee.ca/Culture/2016/09/30/Road-to-Mercy-Documentary/
The Action Group on Access to Justice – Toronto
Redesigning Justice – How would you do it?
Oct. 17, 10-3PM Law Society of Upper Canada
130 Queen Street West https://theactiongroup.ca/2016/10/redesigning-justice-how-would-you-do-it/
The Raconteurs and The Action Group on Access to Justice – Toronto
Raconteurs & Access To Justice Week – Stories from the Justice System,
Oct 21, 7PM-9:30PM at Hart House, University of Toronto, 7 Hart House Circle. The Great Hall, Toronto, ON https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/raconteurs-access-to-justice-week-stories-from-the-justice-system-tickets-27739240816
VERA institute of Justice – Webinar
“Serving Survivors through Co-Advocacy”
Tuesday, October 18, 2016 2:00:00 PM EDT – 3:30:00 PM EDT
“Our services and supports are generally designed around areas of specialization, which means that when survivors have needs outside of our specialty, it often means referring them to another organization, which can result in a delayed response to an immediate need. Co-advocacy offers an alternative to this model.”