Opinion

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 @ 2:33 PM

In the midst of this pandemic, public confidence in government and various institutions has been strained (to put it mildly). At every turn it seems that our political leaders are failing us. The federal government’s vaccine response reminds me of the Keystone Cops skits of old. The operation of “Cottage Parliament” by our prime minister strikes many as an affront to democracy. Our provincial government’s shutdown policies are inconsistent and hard to understand. In all of this, certain segments of our society have bucked the trend and performed wonderfully. High on my list is the Ontario Bar Association (OBA). Full disclosure: I am a member but have absolutely no involvement in management of the OBA. ... [read more]

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 @ 12:56 PM

Everyone is familiar with the mob attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. A multitude of arrests ensued with American media speculating that insurrectionists could be facing penitentiary terms of up to 20 years. Yet in Canada, the frequency and magnitude of homegrown terrorism is thought of as a thing of the past — when the FLQ crisis in the early 1970s was a national concern. ... [read more]

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 @ 1:15 PM

In my previous article, I discussed various socioeconomic disadvantages that serve as systemic barriers to equitable access to justice outcomes. Marginalized and vulnerable segments of our population are disproportionately affected by adversity and hardship, both internal and external to the legal system. However, such disparity is not wholly limited to the justice system. In this article, I will discuss the effect of such disparities in the context of Canada’s opioid crisis. ... [read more]

Monday, February 22, 2021 @ 3:05 PM

Bill C-6, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (conversion therapy), was introduced in the House of Commons on Oct. 1, 2020. It amends the Criminal Code to prohibit anyone from advertising services related to conversion therapy, forcing persons or causing a child from Canada to undergo conversion therapy, removing a child from Canada to undergo conversion therapy abroad, and receiving a material benefit from the provision of conversion therapy. ... [read more]

Monday, February 22, 2021 @ 12:41 PM

Isolated indoors during a bleak, pandemic winter, it may be hard to imagine the beauty of a spring flowerbed. But conjure up, if you will, a lush garden in full bloom. One conspicuous poppy grows above the rest, vibrant and colourful. Do you admire its uniqueness? Or reach for the pruning shears to snip it down to size? ... [read more]

Monday, February 22, 2021 @ 12:33 PM

In A.P. v. L.K. 2021 ONSC 150, one parent decided that her children should not be vaccinated while the other disagreed. ... [read more]

Monday, February 22, 2021 @ 9:45 AM

There’s a lot of media coverage this month commemorating the 50th anniversary of the release of Carole King’s record album Tapestry. From a musical perspective, recognition is well deserved; the anniversary is also a good opportunity to reflect on music and the law. ... [read more]

Monday, February 22, 2021 @ 8:28 AM

Innovation, collaboration and studied but determined steps forward will be key to the evolving modernization of the justice system kick-started by the COVID-19 pandemic. ... [read more]

Friday, February 19, 2021 @ 2:38 PM

I thought I taw a puddytat. A professor Françoise Wemelsfelder at a university in Scotland has developed an app to enable British farmers to monitor and enhance the moods of farm animals. She claims the animals are sentient and the farmers should be able to note whether their cows are lacklustre, insecure or “expressing delight, radiating positive energy.“ The livestock should in fact have happiness, shooting for a more meaningful life, rather than just the bare necessities.  ... [read more]

Friday, February 19, 2021 @ 1:08 PM

The week of Feb. 22, Premier Jason Kenney’s constitutional challenge of Canada’s Impact Assessment Act (IAA) will be heard in the Alberta Court of Appeal. ... [read more]