Access to Justice
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June 14, 2024
New chief commissioner of Canadian Human Rights Commission announced
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Arif Virani announced on June 14, 2024, the appointment of Birju Dattani as chief commissioner of the Canadian Human Rights Commission (CHRC), effective Aug. 8, 2024,
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June 14, 2024
Law requires Ottawa to roll out national strategy to combat ‘environmental racism’ within two years
Calling it “a significant milestone in the fight for environmental justice,” the federal Green party hailed the imminent enactment of its “groundbreaking” private member’s bill that requires Ottawa to roll out within two years a “national strategy” to mitigate the harmful fallout from “environmental racism” — which the party said disproportionately exposes marginalized, racialized and Indigenous communities to environmental hazards.
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June 13, 2024
Inexcusable: Associate chairs missing in action | Voy Stelmaszynski
The absence of permanent, competent associate chairs at Tribunals Ontario spells disaster for each adjudicative tribunal and betrays a lack of commitment to providing leadership when and where it is most needed. Why are there ongoing vacancies in key leadership positions at Tribunals Ontario?
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June 13, 2024
Appeal of drug conviction spotlights improperly executed Feeney warrants
The Toronto Police Service became aware of Daveion Brown through the interception of private communications authorized during Project Sunder, a multi-jurisdictional investigation targeting the Eglinton West Crips.
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June 12, 2024
Successful appeal raises questions of deterrence, denunciation
According to a CBC report, the Ontario government has announced its intention to add hundreds of beds to an already overloaded jail system by reopening intermittent detention centres at correctional centres in London and Toronto and adding up to 200 new staff.
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June 12, 2024
Saskatchewan regulator details strategic plan progress for 2023
Saskatchewan’s law society made strides last year in rolling out parts of its current Strategic Plan — particularly in promoting diversity and equality, ensuring the competence of new lawyers and increasing access to justice for the incarcerated.
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June 11, 2024
Ex-Chief Justice of Canada says judges of Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal remain independent
In the wake of Beijing’s escalating crackdown on independent voices and institutions in Hong Kong since China enacted and expanded a sweeping “national security law,” Hong Kong’s top court is still independent, retired Supreme Court of Canada Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin said as she announced her planned departure next month from the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal.
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June 11, 2024
Searches — and the reasons for them | David Dorson
Being searched is a common occurrence in prison. I had only been on my range in the assessment unit for a day or two when the first search of our range took place. Without notice, we were all told to go into the common room while a group of guards went through all the cells, searching for anything that might not be allowed. This took 30 or 40 minutes; cells are small and sparsely furnished, so searching is not very complicated.
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June 10, 2024
Trust me. I’m a lawyer | Norman Douglas
This is my fifth column for Law360 Canada. I think it's time to ruffle some feathers on the golden goose. When I was a lawyer, I didn't care for lawyers’ jokes, but loved the ones that made fun of judges. When I became a judge, I loved lawyers’ jokes (even made up a few), but thought jokes about judges were offensive. Now I’m retired. I love jokes about both professions. I am going to tackle two issues that are linked together like Bonnie and Clyde, Jesse and Frank (only you cowpokes out there will know their last name), Butch Cavendish and John Reid (gotcha). I could go on, but you get the picture.
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June 10, 2024
Cellphones in Ontario schools: ‘I can do it with a broken heart’ | Marvin Zuker
“Cause I’m a real tough kid, I can handle my s---," says an ode on Taylor Swift’s new album, The Tortured Poets Department. “I cry a lot, but I am so productive, it’s an art.” — So very true; thank goodness for our teachers and the everyday sacrifices they make to make it work.