Access to Justice
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September 17, 2024
Colonial powers and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights | Tega Adjara
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted on Dec. 10, 1948, was a response to the shocking atrocities witnessed during the Second World War. Among its fundamental principles is Article 3, which states, “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.”
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September 17, 2024
Film review: New documentaries challenge viewers on punishment, freedom, personal security
On the afternoon of Thursday, Sept. 12, I had the opportunity to watch two documentaries screened by the Toronto International Film Festival, one after the other. The movie selections were made by chance and seemingly unrelated. However, in retrospect, the two bore surprising similarities that explored a seldom understood concept of freedom.
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September 17, 2024
Competition Commissioner: AI consultation shows concerns about algorithmic pricing, collusion
The Competition Bureau has received submissions highlighting concerns about the potential use of artificial intelligence (AI) for algorithmic pricing, algorithmic collusion and deepfakes, Competition Commissioner Matthew Boswell said in a speech on Sept. 16.
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September 17, 2024
Wiretaps, warrants, constitutionality of various searches at issue in appeal of 2019 drug case
Marko Maric had become a principal target in investigations by the Toronto and London, Ont., police services by the end of April 2016. Armed with a search warrant, on the following May 4, the police searched Maric’s apartment and found approximately 40 kilograms of cutting agents used to dilute cocaine. They also found 8.9 grams of cocaine, a money counter, drug packaging materials and a cocaine press. Maric was subsequently found guilty of drug charges and was sentenced to nine years imprisonment (R. v. Maric, 2019 ONSC 3099).
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September 16, 2024
Public invited to comment on federal government’s proposed AI strategy
The federal government is kicking off the next phase of its public consultations on how artificial intelligence (AI) should or should not be used by the federal public service.
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September 16, 2024
Technological change, work in family law among successes in 2023, says Law Society of Ontario
The Law Society of Ontario (LSO) is emphasizing its successes in a number of areas ranging from technological modernization to developing a family legal services provider and a practical course for sole practitioners as part of its most recent annual report, with the regulator saying it anticipates tackling issues like transparency and governance reform over the next few months.
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September 16, 2024
Ontario Court of Appeal to hear appeals concerning major junior hockey abuse class action
The Ontario Court of Appeal has rejected a motion to quash an appeal related to a proposed class action concerning allegations of systemic hazing, bullying and sexual and physical abuse in major junior hockey.
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September 12, 2024
Sentence over? Now the punishment really starts | David Dorson
The title of this column comes from a poster I saw many years ago; the caption appeared over a picture of an empty jail cell with a barred door standing open. It accurately captures the experience of many people after release from prison. Most people think that when a prison sentence is over, the person goes back to a normal life. Almost everyone who serves time is immensely grateful at first to be released — and then you realize that your sentence is not over at all and that in many ways it will never be over.
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September 12, 2024
Nova Scotia moving to strengthen services for French population
Nova Scotia is proposing legislative changes in efforts to strengthen its commitment to the province’s growing number of French residents.
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September 12, 2024
Minimizing bias in GenAI interactions | Connie L. Braun
During our lifetimes, every one of us has developed propensities and biases toward life, people, institutions and organizations — pretty much everything. These biases shape how we interact with technology and can be particularly apparent in our interactions with generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). Since the humans who make AI are biased, it may be natural to conclude that AI also is likely to be biased.