No reform…

Nov. 4, 2022 Lawyer’s Daily SCC overturns lower court decision, rules Criminal Code provisions on sentencing constitutional “A divided Supreme Court of Canada has overturned a Court of Appeal decision, ruling Nov. 4 that certain Criminal Code … [Read more...]

AI and human rights…

Feb 23, 2017 Amnesty International Canada Report 2016-17:  The State of the World’s Human Rights The report is just over 400 pages and offers an update on the practice and violations of human rights throughout the world.  The index directs one to … [Read more...]

Bad laws, over-litigation…

Dec 14, 2016 National Newswatch – Jim Bronskill, Canadian Press Justice tracking more than 100 constitutional challenges to mandatory penalties The federal Justice Department is tracking more than 100 constitutional challenges to items arising … [Read more...]

Torture anyone?

      June 28, 2015 iPolitics – Kristy Smith More than a third of Canadians condone torture, says poll   The Pew Research Center is a US based group who asked Canadians about whether it is permissible to torture terrorist suspects and whether the … [Read more...]

Discretion wins…

     April 14, 2015  CBC News – Canadian Press Supreme Court quashes mandatory sentences for gun crimes - Ontario ruling that struck down mandatory minimum sentences of 3 and 5 years is upheld By a 6-3 margin, the SCC has ruled that minimum … [Read more...]

Politics of fear…

    Mar 10, 2015  Globe and Mail – Jane Taber Trudeau slams Tories for terror rhetoric Addressing a group of 500 McGill alumni in Toronto, Trudeau drew a comparison between the way Canada responded to the Jewish refuges of the 30’s and the … [Read more...]

Ahead in parliament…

   Jan 28, 2014  Catherine Latimer, Executive Director of John Howard Canada: Struggles ahead for justice in Canada…Where Parliament needs to act  After a break for the holiday season, the House of Commons resumes today.  The Government has … [Read more...]

Family violence

June 26, 2013   CTV News Incidents of family violence declining: StatsCan  The Family Violence report this year focuses “on the prevalence and nature of family murder-suicides in Canada.”  Stats Canada says that about one quarter of reported … [Read more...]

Charter protection or efficiencies

June 18, 2013  Law Times (Canada) – Shannon Kari Paper touts ‘no jail’ option in exchange for reduced Charter protection  On May 16, Lori Sterling, Associate Deputy Minister for the Justice Department, selectively sent out a discussion paper which … [Read more...]