The Friday Brief: Managing Editor’s must-read items from this week

Matthew Grace

Here are my picks for the top stories we published this week.

Law professor deems medically assisted dying amendments welcome, needed
A legal mind is lauding Ottawa’s renewed bid to amend assisted dying laws that would remove an eligibility requirement deemed unconstitutional and widen the ability to consent to a life-ending medical procedure.

Legal aid agreement reached with Quebec government
After three years of negotiations, the Quebec government and the provincial bar association reached an agreement to raise legal fees and to establish an independent working group that will conduct an exhaustive review of the tariff structure.

Change needed on mandatory minimum sentences, criminal records: senator
A Canadian senator has once again brought forward legislation on mandatory minimum sentences and criminal records, which she says has the potential to deliver concrete anti-racist steps forward for the criminal legal system.

Windsor Law report examines impact of pandemic on municipal governance
Participatory democracy and community consultation have suffered in some Canadian cities as the pandemic puts municipal governance under unprecedented pressure, according to a report by the Centre for Cities at the University of Windsor Faculty of Law.

Often imitated, but never duplicated: The ‘Notorious’
In her column, Jasmine Daya writes: “I recall the day I welled up in tears as I watched a documentary on the Notorious RBG. I felt overwhelmed with emotion over what this little woman with huge passion had accomplished to pave the way for women. I was once again filled with emotion upon hearing of the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.”

Matthew Grace is the Managing Editor of The Lawyer’s Daily.