Constitutional
-
February 07, 2025
‘Arguable’ B.C. COVID-19 vaccine passport infringed woman’s equality rights: Court of Appeal
British Columbia’s highest court has ruled that a vaccination passport regime initially imposed by the provincial government during the COVID-19 pandemic may have violated a woman’s equality rights — but declined to weigh in further on the issue because the initial rules were in place for a relatively short time and the circumstances surrounding are unlikely to be repeated.
-
February 05, 2025
Virani extols more diverse bench; says he’s working to get new wrongful conviction review body going
In contrast to the new U.S administration’s dismantling of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies targeting hiring biases against members of racialized and other underrepresented groups, the Trudeau government is doubling down on its commitment to diversity, with Justice Minister Arif Virani proudly extolling the federal Liberals’ record of appointing many “brilliant” women and racialized jurists to the federal trial and appellate benches.
-
February 03, 2025
Manitoba establishes protest ‘buffer zones’ around abortion clinics
Manitoba’s New Democrats have put in place legislation outlawing protests within “buffer zones” around abortion clinics. According to a government news release, the government has proclaimed its Safe Access to Abortion Services Act, which came into force Feb. 1. and provides for “safety perimeters” around clinics performing the procedure.
-
January 30, 2025
Saskatchewan seeks intervenor status in N.L. federal equalization challenge
Saskatchewan has applied to be an intervenor in Newfoundland and Labrador’s legal challenge to Ottawa’s federal equalization program — a longstanding system that transfers money to provinces with less “fiscal capacity.”
-
January 30, 2025
Interpreter delay in drug case was ‘isolated and situational-specific,’ says Ontario Court of Appeal
Ontario’s top court has dismissed the appeal of a man convicted on drug charges who argued his arrest violated the Charter because police had failed to inform him of his rights in Vietnamese.
-
January 28, 2025
Inquiry calls for new prohibitions, penalties against foreign interference in Canada’s democracy
The federal Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference has recommended new prohibitions, fines and stiffer administrative monetary penalties (AMPs), as well as other legislative changes, to strengthen Canada’s defences against foreign interference in the country’s democratic processes.
-
January 28, 2025
Ontario going to the polls Feb. 27
Confirming what has been the province’s worst-held secret over the past few days, Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced Ontarians will head to the polls Feb. 27.
-
January 28, 2025
Manitoba sending conservation officers to help secure U.S. border
Manitoba conservation officers are now lending a hand in tightening the province’s border with the United States.
-
January 27, 2025
Outgoing official languages watchdog cheers court wins, urges vigilance to protect language rights
In his swansong before ending his seven-year term this week, federal Commissioner of Official Languages Raymond Théberge celebrated his office’s litigation victories in support of language rights, while cautioning Canadians against complacency.
-
January 24, 2025
Exclusive: SCC’s Karakatsanis J. says job is ‘so extraordinary, it’s hard to think about doing anything else’
Supreme Court of Canada Justice Andromache Karakatsanis has seen many changes at the court since she was appointed in 2011 but its recent historic transformation into a fully bilingual female-majority court is “fantastic,” she says.